Cycling World Summer 2016

TOUR DE FRANCE

Cycling ecyclist special

Le Tour de France Raising the Steaks

L’EROICA BRITANNIA

Summer 2016

THE LAKE DISTRICT

WORLD

SUMMER 2016 - £4.75

ESTABLISHED 1979

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MOVE MOUNTAINS , RIDE CUBE

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Cycling World February 2016

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Summer 2016

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Cycling World

NEWS CTC Rebrand and Launch Bike Week Strider Balance Bike Racing Edinburgh Festival of Cycling Velovixen: Why £500,000 is a Big Deal for Women’s Cycling

BIKES AND STUFF 19 54

Products: Editor’s Choice of Cycle Wear Bike Reviews

ecyclist special 24 26 29 30 36

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E-bikes the Urban Solution PodRide: an E-bike for all Seasons E-bikes Make University Debut E-bike Reviews ecyclist Products: Buffalo Blade Jacket

UK CYCLING 39

Sustrans' Traffic-free Cycle Ride: Keswick

Railway Path

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Cycling in The Lake District Luxurious Pine Lodge in the Peaks

47 49 50

Training and Nutrition: Ride Fuel

Old Wheel

Ask Anita: Enjoying Bike Week From the Workshop: A New Rim on Your

TOUR DE FRANCE - 60 62 68 72 77 78 80 82 87 88 92 96 101 102 106 108

Grand Départ Normandy Book Review: TdeF Legendary Climbs

Summer 2016

REGULARS

Mountain Mayhem Film Review: Detour de France Tour de France Products Book Review: Magnum Cycling Mad for Bald Mountain: Ventoux Tour de You Normandy: A Love Affair Normandy: Veloscenic Cycle Route Amateurs Tackle the Tour de France Ride a Stage of the Tour Le Mans 24 Heures Velo The Cycle Touring Web Portal of France Stephen Roche on the Tour de France

Summer 2016

L’Eroica Britannia: Retro Fun in the Peaks

CONTENTS

8 12 14 17 20

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Cycling World 6

CYCLE TOURING FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE The Atlas Mountains, Atlantic Coast, Sahara Desert …

Morocco is the ideal place to have an amazing cycling adventure this spring. Hire a bike or bring your own to enjoy the great weather and fantastic landscape of this exotic country on Europe’s doorstep.

visitmorocco.com

muchmorocco

David Robert

waiting hours for a few-second fix. Moreover, we can actually ride the race routes. This could be a cycling holiday in a region such as Normandy, where you nonchalantly ride a short section of the pro route on the way from a campsite to a Boulangerie.

Maybe a family holiday that in truth centres around a day on a hallowed climb, following the tyre tracks of legends. It could even stretch to full blown tour, each stage meticulously ridden the week before the real racers.

It’s about being part of something historic, epic and truly Grand. So don the T-shirt, download the App, read the latest book, play the latest X-Box version, hang the print on the wall. There’s no immunity to the Yellow Fever.

PUBLISHED BY

EDITORIAL

DISTRIBUTED BY:

Cycling World Limited Myrtle Oast

Editor David Robert editor@cyclingworldmag.co.uk

Kemsdale Road, Fostall

Senior Designer Ivan Boyanov

Faversham, Kent

COMAG Tavistock Road, West Drayton Middlesex UB7 7QE

Junior Designer Matthew Head

ME13 9JL

FRONT COVER DETAILS:

Tel: 01227 750153 Publisher Colin Woolley colin@cyclingworldmag.co.uk

ADVERTISING Sales Manager Simon White simon@cyclingworldmagazine.com

Image by- Mont St Michel by ©Veloscenie Joel Damase, CDT Manche

Sales Executive Alice Allwright

CONTRIBUTORS

Anita Powell, Tim Ramsden, Helen Hill, Richard Barrett, Wendy Johnson, Simon Postgate, Martial Prévalet, Gill Corble, Scot Christian, Karen Wood, Iain Marshall, David Robert, Randy Rzewnicki, Matt Ellis, Simon White, Richard Peploe, Sophie Bougeard, Scot Christian, Tracy Norris, Helen Summer.

alice@cplmedia.net Sales Executive Declan Wale dec@cplmedia.net

Free Cycling World App Subscription for British Cycling Members

For more info visit www.cyclingworldmag.co.uk

Although every effort is made to ensure the content of features in Cycling World is accurate and correct, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. No guarantees can be made upon the safe return of any unsolicited copy of photographic images. Thepublisher reserves the right to alter or amend any submitted material that is printed in Cycling World. All material in Cycling World is the copyright of the publisher and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the publisher. ©Cycling World Limited 2015 ISSN: 0143-0238

Summer 2016

by Alpcycle

T

he Tour de France is the only bike race that the majority of my friends take any interest in.

Perhaps this is simply because it’s the only one that gets any air time on unpaid TV. But it’s got to be a bit more than that, surely. It wouldn’t be my first choice to get an uninitiated into the sport. I’d drag them in front of a one-day classic like Paris Roubaix or the Tour of Flanders. The tour can disappoint: a sprinter’s stage, with an uneventful trawl across flat northern France, followed by a few seconds of unintelligible sprint madness could put someone off bike racing for life.

Perhaps it’s the Tour’s proximity to the UK, even more so when it’s rolling out in Yorkshire. The fact that we can go and join the throbbing roadside crowds,

ED's LETTER Summer 2016: Yellow Fever

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EROICA

BRITANNIA: RETRO FUN IN THE PEAK

DISTRICT

E

roica Britannia is the award-winning, three-day Great British Family Festival, celebrating all things vintage, lifestyle and cycling. This year it will be hosted from 17th-19th June for the third time in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Cycling World

The pinnacle of The Festival is The Ride, hosted on 19th June, the last day of The Festival. The adventure of a lifetime, the exhilarating challenge involves riding a pre-1987 road bike, dressed to the nines in flamboyant attire on a choice of 30, 55 or 100 mile routes across the breathtaking views of The Peak District. The first Ride of its kind in the UK, 2,000 riders took part in 2014 and 3,500 in 2015. Over 4,500 are expected to take part this summer.

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Fast becoming known as the 'The Most Handsome Family Festival in the World', Eroica Britannia takes everything from the heart of Great British traditions and dishes it out in spectacular style for families to enjoy with equal measures of quintessentially English curiosities.

Not only a truly unique festival of its kind, Eroica Britannia is famous for being one of the UK's best value and accessible family festivals with advance online tickets. A three-day family holiday pass including three nights camping, parking and festival access is £120. Day passes start from just £10 per

person with kids under twelve going free.

Festival visitors will also have the chance to cheer on stage three of the Aviva Women’s Tour before they arrive at the Festival showground on Friday 17th June. The International world class elite nature of the race presents festival goers the ultimate setting to get inspired by heroic cycling achievements. Eroica Britannia has teamed up with the Aviva Women’s Tour and will be issuing top tips on the best places to cheer on the Riders close by to Festival access points.

Chris Boardman MBE is also attending Eroica Britannia as an ambassador for this year's charity partner Action Medical Research.

ABOUT THE RIDE

Maserati are the presenting partner for The Ride on Sunday 19th June 2016.

The Ride takes the adventure into areas of the beautiful Peak District.

Ride numbers are close to selling out at 4,500 riders.

Women riders are at an all-time high with over 30% female participants.

The Ride attracts adventurers from over 50 countries, including the UK, USA, Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, France and Australia.

Riders travelling between villages of the Peaks enjoy the ultimate local showcase to replenish and re-fuel at 'feast-stops'. Villages put on huge spreads of locally made food and drink and turn their village hearts into a series of mini festivals, with music, singing and dancing along the route.

Pre-Ride - riders can call into the World's greatest outdoor Bike Jumble located over acres of the festival site to primp and preen bikes before the big day!

Riders will be treated to a packed Goodie Bag at registration - complete with a bottle of Handsome Ale brewed by Thornbridge Brewery specifically for the event. Riders will cool off at the Riders Tap with their Ale ticket for more Handsome Ale.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Now in its third year, The Festival has grown into three days of fun for all the family. New features include: A new launch event: 'Swing Night'. A giant Swing dance-off hosted on the Main Stage on the 17th.

A new area: The Settlement. A collection of campfires and craft and makers’ tents designed to celebrate the best of British.

New Categories for Best in Show: The Great British Cake Off. Looking for the best cake and Best Home Brew dedicated to slow gins. Ciders, beers and home brew vodkas et al!

More family fun: our dedicated family area, named Vim and Vigour, and a family ride, The Great British Beach

Summer 2016

A new closing event: Last Day at the Proms. A huge welcome home party for the 4,000 riders flooding back to the Festival to the cheers of thousands of spectators.

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(complete with ice-cream vans and deck chairs) and a vintage fairground including a helter-skelter and steam gallopers.

A new shopping experience: In addition to the magnificent British Bazaar, The Country Living shopping experience brings a further twenty artisans selling high-quality crafts and lifestyle products.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Best in Show: the immensely popular vintage dressing up competition will return on Saturday 18th. Savile Row tailor and judge from BBC's Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant will return to judge the fashion categories for Best in Show.

The British Bazaar: home once again to 250 uniquely splendid vendors, including the World's Greatest Bike Jumble at The Purchasable Exhibition of Treasures and acres of vintage. In addition, The Best of Britannia and Country Living shopping experience which will include an exclusive shopping preview on Friday 17th for generous opening day discounts.

GRAZE: the roaming Food and Drink Festival crammed full of local, regional and national awardwinning street vendors will fuel riders and festival goers alike.

Hullabaloo: Three-days of electrifying live performances from some of the most exciting names in independent music, hosted on multiple 'Hullabaloo' stages.

The three-day festival builds to a crescendo on Sunday 19th June when an expected 4,500 riders will take to the tracks and trails of The Peak District National Park. Riders are welcomed personally back to the Festival after the ride to a huge welcome home party including a RAF Spitfire flyover.

So, whether it’s a trip down Pudding Lane for something sweet, a quick spin on Swing Night, building a sand castle at the Great British Beach or even a refreshing tipple of our own Handsome Ale at the Thornbridge Tavern- there really is something truly British for everyone at Eroica Britannia this Summer.

LOCATION

Eroica Britannia is located on The Bakewell Showground, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1AQ

Cycling World

PRICES

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Advance online purchase three-day festival tickets: £20. Advance online purchase one-day Festival passes: £10. On the gate day passes into the Festival are £15.Children under twelve go free. An advance purchase Family Festival Pass is £120 and includes tent camping, parking and three-day festival access for a family of four.

Ride entry is £60 or £45 concessions and includes a three-day pass into the festival and all food at The Feast Stops en route.

Onsite Festival Camping: £65 for three nights.

The UK’s leading specialisT in women’s cycling KiT

www.velovixen.com

gEt £5 off & fREE postage*

Summer 2016

Use code: cwss16

* Minimum spend £40 Not valid in conjunction with any other offer Expires 01/09/16 11

CTC REBRAND AND LAUNCH BIKE WEEK

B

ike Week 2016 is set to be another big bicycle bonanza aimed at getting over half a million people cycling to work and school from 11 – 19 June. As Cycling UK (formerly CTC, the national cycling charity) sets out its plans for another fantastic summer of cycling, we asked David Murray, Head of Communications and Campaigns at Cycling UK, to set out what their change in name means for our national cycling charity, and to tell us how Cycling World readers can take part in one of the biggest cycling events in the UK. Over to you David…

Cycling World

As the longest-established transport organisation in the UK, it is safe to say that Cycling UK has seen its fair share of change, both inside and outside of the charity.

Founded back in 1878, cycling meant penny-farthings and tricycles but cycles were changing fast – chaindriven ‘safety bicycles' were soon to take over – and they were opening up new horizons for independent travel.

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As The Cyclists’ Touring Club, we were a pioneering organisation, offering a home to those who were keen to explore the world from the saddle, and connecting those people together. More than that, we were an organisation that wanted to share its new-found passion for cycling with the world – to excite others into taking up this fun and exhilarating form of travel. We also stood up for the interests of everyone who wanted to cycle, and it helped to get more people cycling more often. Fast forward 138 years and those aspirations and values remain.

What has changed however, is the need to have a name and brand that is more representative of what a cycling charity is and does, not just for recognition from existing cyclists – the five million people in the UK who cycle three or more times a week – but to reach out to all those people who rarely cycle or never have. That’s why we are Cycling UK.

Bike Week 2016 is one of those key initiatives that helps us all to reach out to the ‘couldbe-cyclists’ and convert them into people who cycle as part of everyday life. This annual opportunity to promote cycling, shows how getting on your bike can easily become a part of everyday life. Whether it’s for fun, as a means of getting to work or school, to get to the shops or to visit friends, Bike Week provides a one stop shop of events and inspiration to get people into the saddle.

Being keen cyclists, Cycling World readers, I’m sure will have noticed, even if only anecdotally, that cycling is becoming more popular than ever. Increasing numbers of people are taking up cycling as an easy and efficient way to travel. But this gut feeling, when we are out on a ride and appear to be accompanied by more folks doing the same thing as us, is backed by government statistics. According to the National Travel Survey, over five million people cycle three or more times a week – that’s up by over 700,000 compared with the previous year’s data.

Last year, through our Bike Week YouGov poll we found that some 47% of the UK’s workforce lives within five miles of work – a readily cycleable distance. So we know that there are millions of people out there who could make the switch to cycling, but maybe just need an excuse (and a friendly nudge) to take part. What’s more, we hear from the World Health Organisation and other health bodies, that the UK population is experiencing an obesity epidemic, and that we need to get more of us more active, more often (some 60% of us Brits are overweight or obese). Bike Week is a great catalyst for getting people cycling and to keep them cycling beyond this one week of bike-based fun. The challenge for Cycling UK is to fill that week with fun and incentives to get people to dig out and dust off their bikes – so we have done just that.

So the challenge to all of us who are already cycling champions and converts is to help other people around us to make the switch to cycling. Whether that’s offering to look over your neighbour’s bike to check the brakes, tyres and saddle position, or suggesting that you join them on their first ride into work (and if it’s a little out of your way, then a great excuse for a longer ride), this is the time we get to promote the thing we love most. We invite you to get involved by putting on your own Bike Week events at work. Simply visit www.bikeweek.org.uk, sign up as an organiser, download your information pack and start promoting your event to your colleagues. We’ve also teamed up with the NSPCC as charity partners, who are calling on Bike Week participants to use some of the money you save from switching from the car or bus to the bike and making a donation based on your savings.

You could argue that cycling is every marketeers’ dream – if there are over five million of us cycling regularly every week, then that’s also over five million individual adverts to cycling with over five million billboards who talk ready to tell the rest of the UK to hop onto their bikes and take part.

Summer 2016

This year, Bike Week is packed full of great activities including the Bike Week National Challenge – log your rides and you get the chance to win a stack of great prizes; Big Bike Breakfasts – the perfect excuse to have a cuppa and a pastry as soon as you get into work; Dr Bike sessions to get your bike checked over by a mechanic, bike-based games for the inner child and led social rides.

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STRIDER BALANCE BIKE RACING

BY KAREN WOOD, STRIDER

W

here can you find toddlers wearing Mickey Mouse helmets whilst sucking dummies on a start line for a bike race? Strider Balance Bike Racing…

At Strider® we love riding bikes and we love inspiring kids to ride. Our mission is to build lightweight, efficient, allterrain bikes that build two-wheeled balance, confidence and coordination in children. We take this mission very seriously and go one “stride” further by hosting events across the world that encourage riding and friendly competition for young toddlers, riders of all abilities, and their families.

Cycling World

The British Heart Foundation recently called upon the government to address the worrying statistic that 9/10 pre-school children are not getting enough exercise and not spending the recommended three hours a day doing physical activity that they need. Whilst statistics are all well and good, what is needed is opportunities for kids to discover the joys of bike riding and as any cyclist knows it is much more fun to ride with other people.

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Strider run several types of events to encourage kids.

Some are Adventure Zones, designed to be a rock up and explore using the bikes over obstacles, but racing is the most popular. Strider Racing is our local race and play grassroots regular racing, held at clubs that are using our bikes to teach children how to ride a bike. Our Strider Cup races are the pinnacle and take place across the world with the finale in San Francisco this summer.

Some could be mistaken into thinking this is a highly competitive event. True, some cherish their silverware to take to nursery’s “show and tell” sessions, but the truth is, families simply have a fun, action-packed affordable day out whilst the kids just love helping each other.

Strider Racing started back in 2010, with a series of one off races across the UK, attended by kids aged between 18 months and 5 years on any balance bike.

The response was almost overwhelming with hundreds of kids riding. Initially we saw ourselves as ambassadors

for this new sport, but it soon became apparent not all bikes are up to the job, and on occasions were so poorly designed they broke mid race, hence now only Genuine Strider’s are used. However, Strider bikes are available to rent to ensure as many children as possible can join in.

We make no excuses as to why some of our events are promoted as “races”; all kids receive medals on the podium, often presented by some of the world’s top riders and a lot of the kids take it seriously, but the race days are chilled, laid back affairs with lots of smiles and laughs. Strider events help develop interpersonal and social skills, right in front of our eyes and parents are reassured that their children are riding in a safe fun environment. Everyone wins and the kids’ confidence soars.

Mind you, why hear it from just us. The proof is what our parents think. Here is Jessica Lamb, proud mum to Eli and Ella.

“My son loves Strider Racing. After going a few times he has built up friendships and would always ask if those kids would be there at the next race. Eli loves to give everyone a high five and is very proud of the little medals and gifts we get every so often and often goes to bed clutching them.

It has helped off the track a lot. I’ve had comments from his nursery teachers about how fit my children are. We go everywhere with our bikes and travel for miles and far further than we could ever do walking or using buggies. Now my son has started school I have been told more than once, that he’s very good at helping other children to “have a go” and if they don’t win something he’s the first to say that you just need to keep trying and not give up.

That definitely all originates from Strider racing. My youngest hasn’t needed a buggy since she was 14 months as she goes everywhere on her Strider. She already gets excited if I mention racing and even has learnt all her colours from the bike range.”

Striders are already used across the UK by professional cycling instructors working in preschool and primary schools so our next step has to be to open Strider racing up to older kids too.

Whilst we have taught over one million toddlers to ride our 12” balance bike we also have a 16” and 20” for kids aged 6 -12 years and adults respectively; the perfect tool for those with special needs challenges, Autism or who just need a little help with learning to ride a bike for the first time.

Our next mission here in the UK is to get these guys racing.

To enter the 2016 races please visit Striderbike. co.uk/events

We look forward to seeing you at Strider Cup 26th June, Birmingham Bike Park – BMX style racing 2nd July, Staffordshire Cycling Festival – Time trial off road course 4th September, Cyclopark, Kent – Track for 2-yearolds, 3 years plus BMX racing 18th September, Llangollen MTB Downhill Series – Strider Downhill

Summer 2016

£15 to enter and all children receive a medal with trophies available to win

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Cycle

Burma 27 October – 5 November 2017

Burma Cycle Challenge This exciting cycle challenge takes us across the diverse landscapes of Burma, where beautiful jungles, mountains and graceful pagodas dotted across the fertile plains await.

Our adventurous route takes us from Mandalay heading for Bagan’s ancient temples, before passing small villages, teak plantations and rice paddies. After almost 445km a great descent brings us to the shores of Lake Inle, where we have time to relax and see the oating gardens.

Your sense of achievement will be enormous as you reach the ďŹ nish, safe in the knowledge that you are helping Macmillan ensure that no one has to face cancer alone.

visit macmillan.org.uk/burma or call 020 7840 7875

Carc ASsoNne O B

El a

Cycle

19 – 24 September 2017

Carcassonne to Barcelona Cycle Challenge Join Team Macmillan for this spectacular 435km ride from the ancient fortiďŹ ed town of Carcassonne in the South of France to the iconic city of Barcelona. Our route takes us through the rolling hills of Cathar country before reaching the mighty Pyrenees.

We continue through Andorra, where our main challenge lies in the long twisting climb of the Port d’Envalira (2408m), which has featured in the Tour de France and Tour of Spain.

You’ll feel incredible as you ďŹ nish in Barcelona, but most importantly you’ll have done something truly amazing to help people affected by cancer.

Cycling World

visit macmillan.org.uk/carcassonnetobarcelona or call 020 7840 7875

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Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604).

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL OF CYCLING

E

dinburgh is getting ready for Scotland’s greatest celebration of bicycle culture. The city will host the fourth edition of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling from 9–19 June 2016. The city forms a stunning and dramatic backdrop for a host of challenges and opportunities for cyclists of all flavours from testing punchy climbs to gentle rolls along the prom at Portobello.

by Chris Watt Photography and the Bicycle Ballet Company

A volunteer-run social enterprise, the festival has grown year-on-year with events attended by thousands of cyclists – hipsters, hill climbers, bikepackers, cycle speedway racers, night riders, Belles on Bikes, all-ability cyclists, tourers, recumbent bikers, speedway kids, families…and last year one guy in a panda suit on a bamboo bike. The festival is about getting people involved; getting people active; supporting their transport, health and green activism. This year’s festival hears from inspirational women and men who have taken on incredible challenges. This year sees the second running of the Capital Trail bikepacking challenge with a UK-wide field riding through the Lothians and Borders; recumbent cyclists take to the road and cycle speedway kids take to the track in come and try sessions. With events across the cultural spectrum there are workshops, talks, films, rides and family events.

Highlights this year include a talk from “Yes” champion and adventurer Dave Cornthwaite; an evening with Scotland’s very own voice of the professional cycling scene, The Velocast and screenings of great cycling films including “Pantani”. We’ll be looking for love at Cycle Speed Dating and turning the streets red with Cycle Flaneur. The second edition of The Capital Trail (extending the festival this year into September) brings riders from across the UK and beyond to the city in a self-supported mountain bike timetrial starting and finishing on Portobello Beach. The 237 km trail is quintessentially Scottish: rough, rugged and scenic at the same time.

Portobello Beach by Edinburgh Festival of Cycling

The festival also caters to the increasing numbers of people commuting in Edinburgh. The Spokes’ Bike Breakfast will provide free food to all who arrive by bike and features a range of stalls, speeches, security marking and servicing for bikes at the Edinburgh City Chambers. The Brompton Fold-Fest will have prizes for the quickest in town to fold a Brompton bicycle at Biketrax and at the SEStran Commuter Challenge participants will set off from Ferrytoll, Ingliston, Straiton and Newcraighall by car, bus, train, tram, bicycle, or jogging/walking and head for St Andrew Square, to see which mode is the fastest and causes the least environmental damage. The festival also includes rides for the whole family such as the Bike Curious Family Workshop, which gives people the chance to meet experienced cycling families to try out various solutions and get the real lowdown on cycling with kids.

Summer 2016

A highlight of the Festival is the Edinburgh Night Ride giving cyclists the chance to experience cycling through the night on quiet roads in East Lothian. The 60-mile ride during the summer solstice, is in groups accompanied by experienced ride leaders. There is a middle of the night feast and rest stop with mechanical support.

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PRODUCT

EDITOR’S CHOICE OF CYCLE WEAR Vanelli Aeroline Jersey £50 and Bib Shorts £60 All the features you could want from a jersey at a very reasonable price. It is made from an extra dry, superlight, stretch Nylon and Spandex, making it quick drying and comfortable. We liked the race cut, giving it that second skin feel. It is very breathable, with mesh underarms and UV protection of 50+. It has a full length zip, three rear pockets and a zip pocket and a silicon gripping waistband.

The bib shorts proved equally pleasant to wear. Made from Coolmax fabric which is ultra-breathable, further ventilation found in the elastic mesh bib. Comfort is integral with flat seam stitching and an anti-bacterial Gel chamois which interestingly features a picture of the Eiffel Tower. Perhaps that’s to remind us that these are comfortable enough for Grand Tour riding. www.vanellicycling.com

Stolen Goat Jersey £60 A nice looker and very comfortable, the jersey is 80% Polyamide 20% Elastane. It moves with you through four-way stretch fabric and offers UV protection. Men’s sizes come in 34in – 49in, women’s even smaller. Made in Belgium, the sleeves are longer in length than standard and are completely seamless with a laser cut end. The fabric gives ventilation and super-fast drying, wicking moisture away from the body. As well as the standard three rear pockets, there is an additional fourth zipped and water-resistant pocket. Good range of designs. www.stolengoat.com

Flab Stealth Jersey £70, Bib Shorts £80

The bib shorts feature a Lycra mesh bib section. It is lightweight, good at wicking and quick drying. In addition, the fabric has been created from an eco-friendly, 100 per cent recycled polyamide. The shorts also have Pixel 300 reflective elastic to the legs and feature an ENERDRY high density foam pad with Bioceramics and Copper for improved performance and comfort. www.fatladattheback.com

Summer 2016

Made in Italy this jersey features a medium weight, Lycra Sport fabric, longer length sleeves so there's no gap between jersey and arm warmers and Pixel 300 reflective elastic to the sleeve and Pixel 300 fabric detail to the back for good reflectivity.

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VeloVixen Cycling World 20

WHY £500,000 IS A BIG DEAL

FOR WOMEN’S CYCLING

By VeloVixen – Female Specific Retailer of the Year, Total Women’s Cycling Awards 2015

B

ig sums of money have been in the news this year.

To judge from the stories emanating from Panama’s favourite company, Mossack Fonseca, there’s almost no high profile figure not tainted by some kind of tax wheeze.

Seven figure sums, eight figure sums… and more. It seems it’s all finally coming out in the wash for many plutocrats who thought avoiding paying their due could continue forever.

So when news broke in March of a £500,000 investment into a small company selling cycling clothing and accessories for women, it might have seemed a drop in the ocean. Let’s face it: it’s small change within the Panamanian accounts of most heads of state, past and present.

But if you’re a follower of women’s cycling, it’s rather more than that. It’s the latest hard evidence that women’s cycling is finally coming of age.

Late last year, Rapha began to cut their ties with Team Sky in favour of clothing the women’s Canyon/SRAM pro team. It doesn’t take a complete fantasist to suggest that Rapha have achieved all they could have dreamt of with Sky and are shrewdly looking for the next big commercial opportunity. And that opportunity is women’s cycling.

This Spring the Tour de Yorkshire announced total prize money of £50,000 for the women’s race – dwarfing the men’s equivalent - plus a full 135km course instead of laps and live ITV4 and Eurosport television coverage.

And just days later, it was announced that Ride London would offer the same prize pot for the women as for the men.

These are not coincidences. It seems the playing field may be leveling out at last.

And so when Chelverton Asset Management signed a deal to invest £500,000 into little old VeloVixen, with our small team and family ethos, it was part of a broader pattern. An accelerated, if belated, realisation that women’s cycling not only offers participants proven health and environmental benefits, independence, and great legs. It also offers astute investors real commercial worth.

Chelverton are grown up, discerning investors with a solid record of spotting opportunities. Our deal took more than six months to put together, and the rigour of their research was impressive. They left no stone unturned.

Speaking to any number of our suppliers and customers, they formed their own conclusion: that the part of cycling’s boom most ripe for success is the female side.

The more that sponsors like Rapha and investors like Chelverton recognise the commercial worth of our sector, the more that momentum will grow. More suppliers will make women-specific kit, more events will be covered properly by the media, more pros will make a living from it.

And, crucially, it will mean ever more ‘normal’ women will feel confident about making cycling part of their lives.

Summer 2016

They chose us as the best way to get access to that trend, and we’re delighted to be able now to play an even bigger part in the ever mounting progress of women’s cycling.

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ecyclist

special

Cycling ecyclistWorld

Welcome to our quarterly in depth ecyclist feature. You might have noticed that we have renamed from e-bike to ecyclist. This is to reflect our feature is not just about the bike; it’s also about the cyclists, the lifestyle and the accessories.

Having said that, you’ll be pleased to hear we’re still reviewing the latest e-bikes. So throttles open!

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Summer 2016

ecyclist

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ecyclist

e-bikes THE URBAN SOLUTION

By Randy Rzewnicki, European Cyclists’ Federation

A

cross the EU, especially in the Netherlands, e-bikes are saving money and time for cities and companies. They are also increasing efficiency, productivity and even providing new jobs. Interestingly almost four out of five of the e-bikes that were tested by companies and city fleet managers continued to be used after the trial period.

For one year, nineteen e-bikes were tested in Sweden by home care employees of Motala. After the trials, all nineteen were adopted. “Our project was very successful and our neighbouring authorities were so impressed they also invested in e-bikes” said Ms Agneta Niklasson, chairman of the technical committee of Motala.

Different powered two-wheelers were tested by the Croatian Post last year: three e-bikes and an e-scooter. The tests were scheduled to last twelve months, but the CEO was so impressed after six months they started the tender process. It resulted in a fleet of 180 Slovenian Krpan e-bikes being purchased for nearly 500,000€, each one replacing a conventional motor scooter. France has a large scale postal success story. La Poste has 20,000 e-bikes in their fleet and 10,000 more e-bikes were delivered recently, all produced in France.

Cycling ecyclistWorld

Electric bikes generally prove to be very efficient in dense urban areas where most delivery rounds are short. In most cases they perform better than motorised vehicles, saving money and increasing efficiency, says a recent report “A New Move for Business: Electric Cycle Logistics in European cities.”

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DHL has 12000 bikes and e-bikes in its delivery fleet across Europe. In the Netherlands, each DHL “par-cycle” replaces one delivery van saving the company 13,000€ per year. GLS, Italy’s second largest delivery company, replaced vans with e-bikes, hired additional staff and moved its logistics centre to Milan’s city centre to profit from the benefits offered to users of electric vehicles.

Mr Simone Vicentini, General Director of GLS Enterprise in Milan, noted that the economic savings came with improved

services. “We opened a new logistics centre in downtown Milan, replaced six delivery vans with nine bikes, and hired more staff for the extra vehicles. The result was increased deliveries, productivity and efficiency. Even though GLS hired more people, we still save money. We plan to do this in Bologna and Rome soon.”

The European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) has worked in Brussels and across Europe to promote the use of bikes, e-bikes and cargobikes. “Berlin based cycle producers want to sell 100,000 e-bikes per year,” said ECF policy officer Randy Rzewnicki, “entirely in line with our analyses.”

In March 2016, Bosch eBike Systems joined the ECF’s Cycling Industry Club. “E-bikes are an affordable, ecologically sensible and fascinating mobility solution. To ensure the lasting success of e-bikes we need an intelligent cycling infrastructure,” says Claus Fleischer, Head of Bosch eBike Systems.

"For the ECF and the industry, the support given by Bosch eBike Systems is a positive signal. The bicycle has a past and a future,” says ECF Development Director Kevin Mayne.

There is a clear trend in European transport policy to address the negative impacts of motor transport: air quality, congestion, CO2 emissions, road danger and noise. Logistics contributes heavily to these impacts, while trends such as the growth in e-commerce mean that the requirement for last mile logistics, short distance urban deliveries, will only grow.

Cycles, including e-bikes, can play a significant role in a cleaner, more efficient urban delivery system. The European project PRO-E-BIKE worked with 40 partners, from private and public sectors, large and small, in seven EU member states to test this. The project demonstrated that e-bikes were popular, efficient, reliable and – above all – saved money compared to the motorised alternative. Most of the participants were so impressed, they are continuing or expanding their use of e-bikes, after the project had finished.

Agneta Niklasson of Motala

Summer 2016

E-bile share in Madrid by .Liz

25

ecyclist - Product

PODRIDE

An e-bike for

all seasons

Cycling ecyclistWorld

P

26

odRide is a four-wheeled bicycle with a full body, giving a dry and safe ride in all weathers.

Run the electric motor and just cruise along or turn it off and exercise, bike to work all winter, park free in the city centre, skip the traffic jams, use both roads and bike paths, no uncomfortable saddle, no driver’s license, cheaper to run and great for the environment.

TECHNICAL DATA:

PodRide is a velomobile that is meant to be a practical every day vehicle. It has approximately the same sitting position and seat height as a small car, allowing easy access and good visibility in traffic. It has four wheels but is narrow enough for bicycle paths and still be stable in the curves. It has a full waterproof body to keep you warm and dry in any weather, heated windshield with wipers, soft seat with back support, air suspension and studded tyres for winter conditions.

Additionally, there is a small boot for your shopping bags and a hitch for a bike trailer when you want to take your kids. The electric motor and the battery are the same as on an electric bike so it is legally a normal pedal cycle and may therefore be used on bike paths and without a license.

WEIGHT: 70kg

Estimated price: €2000 - €3000 LENGTH: 180cm WIDTH: 75cm HEIGHT: 145cm SEAT HEIGHT: 50cm

WHEEL: 20inch tyres WHEELBASE: 88cm TURNING RADIUS: 1.75m MOTOR: 250W electric GEARS: 14 speed hub RANGE: 60km MAX SPEED: 25km/h CO2 EMISSIONS: 7g/km (EU-electricity mix) (comparison: car 140g/km, Electric car 70g/km)

27

Summer 2016

for the very best in European engineered e-bikes

www.urbanebikes.com

Cycling ecyclistWorld

urban.ebikes, Hove Street, Hove. BN3 2DF T:01273 206091

28

E-BIKES MAKE UNIVERSITY DEBUT

A

University of Brighton power-bike rental service for staff and students took to the streets for the first time in March. The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Debra Humphris, gave the new ‘e-bikes’ a trial run and declared them “excellent and great fun.” She said: “The issue around sustainable transport and sustainable living is absolutely imperative for not just this nation but for every nation on earth, and the University of Brighton is strongly committed to sustainability.

“If this project in some small way makes a difference to emissions, to healthy living, to transport sustainability, then these are the things we must do. But we must not just practice them, we must research them and to find ways to change our behaviour to a more sustainable lifestyle.”

Associate Professor Anne Mandy, from the university’s Centre for Health Research, was awarded £36,000 to trial a fleet of ten Electrically Assisted Power Cycles (EAPCs), one of eleven such projects funded by the Department for Transport to “help tourists, residents and workers go further by bike”.

The launch, at Eastbourne railway station, was attended

by Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell and Eastbourne Mayor, Councillor Janet Coles. Both trialled the bikes and gave them the thumbs up.

The Eastbourne EAPCs will be available between the university’s campus in Eastbourne and the town’s railway station. Staff members who have completed e-bike training will be given access to an e-bike booking system which will enable them to book one of the ten e-bikes based in Eastbourne station to use while on university business.

Staff and students will also be able to sign up to a separate rental scheme enabling them to rent an e-bike for various periods of time.

Associate Professor Mandy, the project lead, said sustainability was one of the university’s core values: “The university's Travel Plan shows that 43 per cent of staff and 21 per cent of students travel to university as single drivers in their cars. The strategy is to reduce single occupancy vehicle transport by ten per cent for staff and seven per cent for students by 2016. This project will demonstrate the value of EAPCs for linking rail and university locations, and will lead to more understanding of the role of storage solutions and innovative support services.”

For more information about renting an e-bike here: http://goo.gl/forms/xFxM3Doa7H

Summer Summer 2016 2016

Profes

sor De

bra Hu mphris

The projects were chosen by Carplus, the non-profit environmental transport non-governmental organisation, which is investigating whether electric bikes are the answer to congestion, transport and health problems. Southern Railway and Eastbourne Borough Council are collaborating with the university’s research which will explore the uptake of electric bikes.

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ecyclist - Bike Review

Momentum Electric Model T

by Simon Postgate

SPECIFICATION Motor: Bafang front hub 250w 40nm Battery: Samsung 36v 10.4ah Frame: Aluminium step-through 46cm-53cm Gearing: Sram Automatix 2 speed Range: 45-80km Weight: 21kg

Cycling E ecyclist - Bike World

Warranty: Electric components 2yrs, frame 5yrs

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I

have to confess to suffering from a slight lack of enthusiasm when the box arrived with the Model T inside, perhaps due to the rather staid image of the bike I had created in my mind.

Nonetheless, I dutifully opened the box and bit by bit as the bike was revealed I have to say that I became more and more charmed by the contents.

The details of this bike are beautifully well-considered and functional, the whole machine has been built up to, rather than down to, a budget and done in a way that I can only describe as… with love.

The bike has a convenient step through aluminium frame finished nicely in glossy black.

Lovely wide classic-looking handlebars finished off with a posh pair of large sculpted handgrips. The sprung saddle is big and comfortable giving an inviting look to the bike.

Once you jump on and ride it you are rewarded with a sprightly response from the motor particularly on the

£1,350 highest of the three power settings. The bike glides along beautifully and copes well with any incline. The geometry of the machine encourages a relaxed approach, a case of sitting back and enjoying the ride with a bit of pedalling thrown in, particularly on longer hills. This is more of a city bike than a full-blown tourer. There are no suspension units apart from the sprung saddle which supplies a rather pleasant ‘retro bob’ over the bouncy bits, fine for this kind of riding.

The Model T has a two gear SRAM hub automatic gear system, which, I have to say, works very well. First gear lasts till around 10mph and then second kicks in with a distinct feeling of raised pressure under foot, all very natural and intuitive. The 250w motor is located in the front wheel, thus balancing out the weight of the battery and gear system which are placed towards the rear, there is also a torque sensor at the pedals themselves, a well thought-out arrangement.

The bike is supplied with a sturdy rack, mudguards, rustproof chain with guard, integral lights which come on at the push of a button- including a handy walk function, great for manoeuvring off the bike.

Everything looks right and in harmony with the general feel of the bike, nothing looks cheap or out of place and the 53 cm size is perfect for me at 6’2’’ which is great coz I fancy a ride right now, see ya later!

Based by the beautiful seaside town of Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, RooDog is a family owned business who specialise in high quality, fun, stylish and affordable range of electric bikes.

Run by fully experienced and friendly staff, and renown for excellent customer service.

RooDog ebikes key features: l Competitively priced. Stylish, light weight and high quality l Lithium batteries with a power assisted (PAS) range of up to 30 miles or more per full charge l 3 riding options: Pedal only; Pedal assist and Throttle controlled l 2 years warranty on battery and motor l Unique! polka dot ebike specially designed for female riders l Nationwide Dealership

WWW.ROODOG.CO.UK

Tel: 01964 536570 Email: talktous@roodog.co.uk Brockholme Farm,Seaton Road, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorskshire, HU18 1BZ

New Francis-Barnett Classic Electric Bicycles available now from Batribike

The dark green glossy paintwork with gold logos and lines show the heritage styling that is very much in-vogue at the moment, with many high tech products going for the retro look.

The vintage-styled bicycles have the distinctive Francis-Barnett livery and are equipped with electric bike technology. The step-through and crossbar style bikes feature a 7 speed Shimano Nexus hub gear in the rear

wheel and a 250W brushless motor in the front wheel. The motor is powered by a 36v 10Ah, Samsung, lithium battery sited below the rear rack. The bikes are styled with a full range of accessories to complete the vintage look. Colour matched mudguards, skirt guard and sturdy front rack, sprung saddle with matching leather look grips, vintage style bell and front light all come fitted as standard.

These new bikes, whilst not motorcycles, still follow the ethos of the original founders. They are a quality, handbuilt, mode of transport for the modern era.

Working in partnership to fight cycle crime Market leaders Batribike first and only UK electric bike company to fit Datatag to every model in it’s range

Batribike are a Lincolnshire based Family business producing specialist electric bikes exclusively designed and built for the UK market.

Model range: folders, step-through Dutch, classic vintage & hand built MTB. Network of professional dealers giving first class service and support.

See Batribike on stand K190 and in the electric bike test ride area of the Cycle Show at the NEC in September. www.batribike.com/FB

Cycle Security & Registration System Protects your bike - not just your frame

‘Stealth’ UV Etch

Datadots® mark cycle components and accessories

Unique Tamper Evident Label with QR code

| www.datatag.co.uk Ask your local Batribike dealer for more details or visit www.batribike.com

October 2015 Cycling World

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Summer 2016

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atribike is exclusively licensed to manufacture the exciting new Francis-Barnett Electric and has worked closely with the brand to get the right look and styling that befits a “Classic machine from Yesteryear, reimagined for the 21st Century”.

&

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ecyclist - Bike Review

CUBE Stereo 140 Race 2015

by Simon Postgate

A

£3,699

nyone over a certain age may well have gone mountain biking and as they found themselves pushing the bike up a particularly steep slope asked themselves the question, how might this situation be improved?

Well, friends, here it is, the Cube Stereo 140 Race.

This is a bike that will help you up hill as well as down dale, allowing you to concentrate on developing your off-roading skills without any frustrating interludes. In fact, with the advent of the new Bosch CX Performance motor, which is fitted to this model, a re-assessment of possibilities is definitely in order. Although the motor is restricted to 250 watts by law, 75Nm of torque is now available which allows you to make decisions about ascents with the confidence that it will happen. It takes a while to adjust to what this bike can do and, of course, a certain amount of caution is a good idea, until you have the measure of its (and your) capabilities.

Cycling ecyclistWorld

Suspension on the Cube is handled by a pair of fully adjustable RockShock Pike air forks at the front and a Fox air unit at the back; the Fox has three settings, ascent, trail and descent, adjustable at the flick of a lever at the top of the unit itself. All good, state of the art stuff but the feature that really caught my attention was the dropper post. Now, I was initially a little wary of this device but I have to say I very rapidly changed my opinion. It is activated by a lever on the handlebar which, when depressed, allows the saddle height to gently drop down to an appropriate height for the type of riding you’re involved in, it also rises gently back up when the lever is again depressed. This was largely created for descents which, of course it’s great for, but it’s actually also quite useful for simple alterations of ride height for any situation while on the move. Brilliant!

This is a bike that is built for aggressive riding in adverse terrain and this is where it shines. Out on the move the bike is well-balanced with precise and positive changes from the Shimano XT gear system.

The brakes are progressive and powerful without being too sharp initially. The Cube has 27.5’’ wheels which are a good compromise between single trail manoeuvrability through woodland and longerlegged pace along fire-trails.

32

My only mini-grumble is about the conspicuously large Bosch Nyon display on the handlebars, is it really necessary to have a unit that takes twenty seconds to fire up and supplies arguably more information than many people require. I wonder if Cube might consider offering the basic Bosch Intuvia version with this bike which fires up immediately and which I, for one, find entirely adequate. I suspect that this is an opinion that may well have been listened to, looking at the (cheaper) 2016 model.

At its heart this is a wonderfully focussed machine superbly equipped to delight dedicated hardcharging mountain goats. Come on, get out there and rip it up!

SPECIFICATION Motor: 250 watt Bosch Performance CX (75NM) Battery: Bosch Power Pack 500 Frame: HPA Ultralight, Hydroformed Aluminium 16”, 18”, 20”, 22” Forks: Rock Shox Pike RC Solo Air 140mm travel Wheels: Answer Atac EM 27.5’’ Gearing: Shimano XT 10 speed Brakes: Shimano XT hydraulic disc (180/180) Rear suspension: Fox Float Air Weight: 22.4kg Price: £3, 699 (2015), £3,299 (for 2016)

CUBE E-Bikes

E

-bikes are on the rise - and they’re here to stay. With the latest technological developments they have become more powerful, longer lasting and better looking than ever before. They are also shedding their chunky image and are now available in beautifully stylish designs and fashionable colourways.

CUBE Bikes boasts a comprehensive E-Bike range that aims to satisfy every type of E-Bike rider as each frame is specially developed for a specific use. Each frame’s construction features a downtube specifically designed to house the market-leading Bosch motor – known for its safety and reliability. This allows for a very low position of the motor, creating a low centre of gravity and achieving an incredibly rigid bottom bracket area – both of which are crucial to how the bike handles.

The Bosch motor boasts an impressively long battery life. The support from the motor will help the rider no matter how heavy the load and how severe the conditions – up long climbs or in strong, demoralising headwinds. When the battery does finally run low, charging it is easy.

Simply plug the battery into a mains socket, or connect the mains lead directly to the bike itself.

So no matter what your style of riding is – or whether you’re male or female, big or small, young or not-quiteso-young, CUBE Bikes has developed a range of E-Bikes that will be sure to match your preference.

For more information on CUBE Bikes, and to locate your nearest dealer, please visit www.cube.eu

www.facebook.com/cubebikesu @CUBEBikesUK cubebikesuk

Promotional Summer Feature E - Bike2016

CUBE Bikes also offers a huge range of fun and adventurous off-road E-Bikes. The full suspension mountain bikes will take any thrill-seeker to the top of the hill before testing their technical skills on the way down. Equally, the hardtail range enables fun- loving trail riders to ride as far as the trail can take them.

Cube E-Bikes

For the touring inspired E-Bike models, CUBE has developed an integrated carrier that is at one with the bike - as opposed to traditional carriers that are retro-fitted.

This not only makes the carrier stronger and more reliable, but it compliments the beautifully designed frame, too.

33 33

The UK is on the verge of an e-bike revolution

Learn it

Call ATG Training now on

01296 737800 cycles@atg-training.co.uk www.atg-training.co.uk

Fix it

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With more and more e-bikes becoming available, knowing how to fix and maintain them is a new skill to learn. As the only UK provider of Cytech technical e-bike training ATG can help you gain the skills you need.

Cityzen C8 E-Bike RRP ÂŁ1,999 Disc brakes Bosch system Mid motor Range 90 miles

Cycling World

Gazelle The No.1 Lifestyle & E-bike brand in the No.1 cycling country...

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Royal Dutch Gazelle is the premier European Lifestyle and E-bike cycling brand with over a 100 years of heritage and experience. At Gazelle, we believe: the better your bike is, the more often you will cycle! Ever since 1892 we have been doing everything in our power to make the finest quality bikes that provide the smoothest and most comfortable ride possible.

Gazelle is clear market leader in the Netherlands and has recently launched in the UK this year.

To locate your nearest stockist please go to

www.royaldutchgazelle.co.uk

Stay Safe Improve Performance and Love your Bike!

W

hether you want to get fit, race or just get around on your own steam, maintaining your bike is important.

Now the dark nights are a distant memory, more and more of us are getting back on our bikes. Whatever your motivation it maybe some time since you serviced your bike in readiness for the road or trail and how many of us have had to deal with a ride ending mechanical issue such as a puncture or jammed chain whilst out on a ride?

To find out more just call 01296 674995, email cycles@atg-training. co.uk or visit on www. atg-training.co.uk/ homemechanic.

Promotional Summer Feature E - Bike2016

Our training will help you to gain a good level of mechanical ability covering a comprehensive range of cycle maintenance areas. The course is led by an experienced instructor who will guide you through a varied mix of demonstrations and practical exercises. You will learn to safely and effectively maintain and repair your bike.

ATG Training

A Cytech home mechanic course from ATG Training could be the solution to these annoyances.

35 35

ecyclist - Product Review

The Buffalo Blade Jacket £79.99

by Simon Postgate

Cycling ecyclistWorld

D 36

uring periods of inclement weather or when taking to the wintry hills for a spot of trailing on my KTM electric bicycle I often decide to don my Weise X-Blade motorcycle jacket, which set me thinking. What can you get for around the price of an upmarket cycling top, that does a similar job but with more warmth and protection? The answer is, something like this, the Buffalo Blade, which is a cheaper version of the now, sadly, discontinued X-Blade (bit of a silly name, I know). Now, this sort of thing wouldn’t work for a conventional cyclist, obviously, due to issues

based around overheating but for an e-biker, maybe not so much, at least not on a cold day?

The Blade is made with 600 denier nylon, a light, but genuinely tough material and it has protection in the shoulders and elbows. The quilted lining zips out and there are zip opening vents front and back to aid cooling. There are also lots of useful pockets including a waterproof internal one. The thermally insulated jacket comes down reasonably low at the back and closes with a choice of tightness at the wrists.

The only slightly awkward feature

is the closure of the storm collar at the neck which is quite high when done up completely. There are similar alternatives available such as the Buffalo Samurai with a softer, more conventional collar. But I like the classical look of the Blade, particularly in black.

So there you are, you make your choice. It’s a lot of jacket for the money, a step too far some might say, others might find the extra protection reassuring, particularly when riding down a slippery off-road track.

THE ULTIMATE ALL IN ONE HOME & BIKE INSURANCE We combine your home and bike insurance under one policy to save you money Standard features include: Building cover Contents cover Crash Damage Theft & Accidental Damage Worldwide cover for your bikes, clothung, equipment & personal belongings ÂŁ2 million Public Liability when riding in the UK Breakdown cover Personal Accident Cover against damage by an airline

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For full terms & conditions please contact Pedalcover.

For more information and a quote visit

www.pedalcover.co.uk or call 0800 121 4424

b

550254

BIKE & HOME

Pedalcover Limited is an appointed representative of Kingswood Insurance, which is Authorised and Regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority. FCA Number 550254

TRAVEL

HEALTHCARE

Summer 2016

MAGNUS BACKSTEDT

MOTORHOME

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Men and women of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines serve their country, often at times of danger. Established in 1922, the RNBT helps non-commissioned Sailors, Marines and their families (The RNBT Family) throughout their lives.

Your donation will help us to help them.

Castaway House, 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO2 8RN T: 02392 690112 F: 02392 660852 E: rnbt@rnbt.org.uk www.rnbt.org.uk

RIDELONDON -SURREY 46 31 July 2016 Be one of the first to take part in this brand new sportive in the cycling calendar.

Take on this spectacular 46 mile route on traffic-free roads to help young people with cancer.

Cycling World

Enter now and get 50% off your registration fee using the code WORLD Join the team with your own place, or buy one of ours at: www.teenagecancertrust.org/ridelondon

Email: challenges@teenagecancertrust.org Call: 020 7612 0370 Visit: www.teenagecancertrust.org/ridelondon Teenage Cancer Trust is a registered charity: 1062559 (England & Wales); SC039757 (Scotland)

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SUSTRANS' 91 A5

TRAFFIC-FREE CYCLE RIDE

L O N S C A L E

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NCN route number: 71

K ESWI CK LE I SURE POOL

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BRI GHAM

CAST LE RI GG STONE CI RCLE

K ESWI C K

LONST I ES

9 28 B5

Grade: Easy

TERRAIN, GRADIENTS AND ACCESS

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CAST LE RI GG

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STAY

YHA Keswick 0800 0191 700 www.yha.org.uk

The Horse and Farrier Inn, Threlkeld (01768) 779688 www.horseandfarrier.com.

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Wooden boardwalks that snake around the steep sides of Greta Gorge are a particular delight in the early miles of the ride, before you settle down along the valley floor, passing through thick woodland close to the river’s edge, where herons, dippers and wagtails may be spotted. There are some great spots for a riverside picnic beneath the trees in this second half of the ride.

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Start at Keswick Leisure Pool and follow the former Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith railway line past the town’s beautiful old railway station. The path flirts with the pretty River Greta throughout, following it in parts and crossing it in others (eight times in total) using the old railway bridges.

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ROUTE DESCRIPTION

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A very gentle ascent along stony trail. Several gates along the way and a short on-road section into Threlkeld village.

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CAST LE HE AD WOOD

TH RE LK E LD K N OTTS L O W

A591

Train stations: None (closest are Aspatria or Penrith)

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Finish: Threlkeld

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There are lots of good, hearty cafés in Keswick, but The Chalet Tearooms and Restaurant is particularly well-loved.

At Threlkeld, eat at The Horse and Farrier Inn, The Sally Inn or Threlkeld Coffee Shop in the old village hall.

CYCLE HIRE

Keswick Bikes (01768) 773355 www.keswickbikes.co.uk

Summer 2016

At the end of the traffic-free path, take the short road into Threlkeld, a little village that sits in the shadow of the mighty Blencathra Mountain. There are a couple of charming traditional Lakeland Inns here, and a lovely coffee shop with superb mountain views.

LOOPS, LINKS AND LONGER RIDE

Take an alternative return route via Castlerigg Stone if riding mountain bikes. This route includes some steep ascents and descents, on-road riding and unsurfaced track so isn’t suitable for very young or inexperienced riders.

Keswick Railway Path is part of the Sea to Sea (C2C), a 140-mile coast to coast ride across the North of England, from Cumbria to Tyne and Wear. From Thelkeld you can follow the C2C on a mix of traffic-free path and quiet roads to reach Penrith via the lovely Greystoke Cycle Café.

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by Phil Cheatle, Sustrans

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Start: Keswick Leisure Pool

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All the romance of the Lake District is captured in this short and gentle ride from Keswick, a pretty town on the shores of Derwentwater that is a hub for outdoor activities.

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TEXT BY WENDY JOHNSON

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KESWICK RAILWAY PATH A5 91

Distance: 4 miles

B L E N C A T H R A

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CYCLING IN THE

LAKE DISTRICT

By Richard Barrett for Cicerone Publications

A

fter a few miles to get warmed up, there are two big climbs that come in rapid succession and two lesser climbs after the turn for home making this route a must for those wanting to put their climbing ability to the test.

Leave Ambleside and head west on the A593 towards Coniston. Shortly after crossing Skelwith Bridge, turn right towards Elterwater. At the bottom of the hill, turn left towards Little Langdale. After a gentle climb up through Little Langdale village, there is a pleasant descent past Little Langdale Tarn.

Keep left at the cattle grid. Once past the Grade II listed Fell Foot Farm, which was one of the sixteen farms that Beatrix Potter left to the National Trust the road starts to climb (during the depression of the 1930s, Beatrix Potter encouraged her tenants to offer B&B and those at Fell Foot Farm, which she left to the National Trust, still do.) It is fairly easy to start with, but once past Hollin Crag, where the full extent of Wrynose Pass becomes visible for the first time, the gradient increases and never eases until the summit.

Cycling World

Once past Three Shires Stone at the summit, the initial part of the descent is steep and twisting and needs care, but the long run out through Wrynose Bottom is pure pleasure. Cross the packhorse bridge that spans the River Duddon at Cockley Beck and set out up Hardknott Pass. It is neither a long climb, nor a high climb. And nowhere does it reach the lung bursting gradients that are experienced when climbing it from the Eskdale side. However, a quick look at an Ordnance Survey map shows seven gradient markers clustered in less than 500m half way up. It is this stretch that makes many riders consider it to be the hardest ascent in the Lake District, especially the straight 30 per cent ramp near the beginning. Here, any lack of commitment means stalling and then walking until the gradient eases and it is possible to get going again. After that there are several hairpins where, unless there are any vehicles, it is possible to minimise the gradient by going wide.

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There are three parts to the descent with two steeper sections that need care sandwiching a more benign middle section. Not that it matters much when going downhill. Other than for a short ascent at Dalegarth, the road through Eskdale is also gently downhill, giving some marvellous riding through Boot and all the way to the T junction near the King George IV Inn on the outskirts of Eskdale Green.

Turn left towards Broughton and a long climb up and over Birker Fell. This is not a single peak as its name suggests, but a high moor with numerous crags rising above the

Route Over the Wrynose and Hardknott passes from Ambleside Distance 68km (42 miles) Climb 1580m Grade Long/challenging Time 6–7hrs OS maps 90, 96 CafÊs/pubs Ambleside, Little Langdale, Boot, Eskdale Green, Broughton Mills, Torver, Coniston Start and finish Ambleside (NY 377 045) Maximum gradient 30% Major climbs Wrynose Pass: 2.9km, 280m, 25%; Hardknott Pass: 1.8km, 180m, 30%

undulating terrain. Once in Ulpha, turn left up the Duddon Valley towards Seathwaite and enjoy a couple of easy kilometres to Hall Dunnerdale. Once across the River Duddon, turn right towards Broughton Mills and climb up and over the Dunnerdale Fells. It is a short sharp ascent with gradients on the lower section through Far Kiln Bank reaching into the low teens. But once over the top there is the well-earned reward of another long descent. After crossing the River Lickle, turn left towards Torver and climb up and over the lower slopes to Broughton Moor to reach the A593.

Turn left and ride through Torver to Coniston, enjoying the views out across Coniston Water. You could ride all the way back to Ambleside on the main road, but a quieter option is to turn right towards Hawkshead in the centre of the village and follow the B5285 around the head of Coniston Water and up Hawkshead Hill to the aptly named High Cross. Turn left towards Ambleside and ride through Barnsgates to meet the B5286 at Pull Woods. Turn left and enjoy the last few miles down to meet the A593 at Clappersgate. Turn right to return to Ambleside.

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However, it would be very appropriate: the passenger in the first car to cross both the Hardknott and Wrynose passes in 1923 was Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine (1902–1922), who was last seen alive making for the summit of Everest with George Mallory on 8 June the following year. The driver was the wealthy motoring fanatic Dick Summers who Irvine had first met at Shrewsbury School. At the time Summers was courting Irvine’s sister, Elizabeth, who he eventually married in 1925, while the 21-year-old Sandy was having an affair with Summers’ 25-year-old step mother. Neither was said to be happy about the other’s relationship, which may have created a tense atmosphere for the other passengers in the opentopped Vauxhall 30-98, the Keswick rock climber and photographer, George Abraham, and his two young daughters.

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Summer 2016

‘Everesting’ – repeatedly climbing the same hill until 8848m of ascent has been achieved – is an increasingly popular cycling challenge. Doing it on the gradients of Hardknott Pass would be punishing as you would need to climb Hardknott Pass 30 times from west to east or 50 times east to west to complete an ‘Everest’.

41 30/10/2015 15:56

LUXURIOUS PINE LODGE in the

Peak District

CW reporter Simon White enjoys a family cycling holiday in the Peak District, with luxurious accommodation at Darwin Forest Country Park

M

y family and I were invited to a place called Darwin Forest Country Park, having never been to the Peak District (or stayed in a pine lodge before), we decided to take up this kind offer and see what all the fuss is about.

Having arrived at a train station in Chesterfield, it was then a twenty-minute taxi journey to our destination, somewhere between Matlock and Bakewell. I was reminded of my time in Devon - rolling hills, old flint rock walls between fields adorned with gorse, the spikey evergreen shrub that flowers yellow. A far cry from the towns of Thanet we had left behind.

On pulling into the grounds you realise that it is located in proper woodland, (not a manmade environment), but a space utilised inside a forest where you get a real feeling of nature and exploration. A friendly welcome awaited us at reception where we grabbed the keys and made our way to the lodge.

My partner Angela and I were just as excited as our children Harvey and Ruby to see what the lodge was like, and I have to say, we were not disappointed at all. The outside looks like a log cabin, with a large veranda surrounding half the building. Moreover, it houses- to our delight - a hot tub! Sliding back the glass doors it revealed an open plan living area, immaculate and modern; brimming with all the amenities a family needs, from a fully integrated kitchen to a double shower and luxurious bathroom, and each bedroom being an overly generous size. This “cabin” is comparable to what you would expect from a large luxury apartment in London.

Cycling World

A few quick games of hide and seek allowed the kids to explore every nook and cranny of our new dwellings, while Angie and I had a well-deserved dip in the hot tub, which was ready to use at any time.

42

We then stretched our legs and looked around the country park facilities which include a bar and restaurant, heated swimming pool and gym (with crèche facilities) and even a small football pitch. Most appreciated by my youngsters were the two indoor play areas and outdoor play park. We finished off the day with crazy golf (Angie cheated) then picked up supplies from the onsite shop before

heading back to the lodge.

Our second day was dedicated to cycling.

While the Peak District has some of the most challenging rock climbing faces in Europe (Stanage Edge and the Roaches), it also has cycles routes for all, with 65 miles of off road cycling trails and an abundance of quiet scenic lanes. Darwin has a selection of bikes to hire which made things easy for our family of four. We set off on the “Monsal” trail which is a disused railway line converted into a track for cyclists and horse riders. From Coombs Road Viaduct, to the head of Chee Dale, the route follows the deep valley of the River Wye through untouched, beautiful countryside.

But not without diversions to avoid tunnels, one of which occurs on the way from Great Longstone to Monsal Head, where there is a magnificent viewpoint. From this point you get a panoramic view of the River Wye slowly winding its way down the dale between meadows and the steeply wooded side of the valley. For a lighter ride that families can enjoy, this route (8.5 miles in total) is just right.

My son Harvey’s fourth birthday was the following day and after the chaos of present unwrapping, we headed for a theme park called Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath.

This theme park is mainly aimed at two to thirteen-year-olds, with pricing (including food) deliberately set lower than any other UK theme park, because it is designed to a be a reasonably priced family day out. With over 50 rides of all types, set in nine different themed areas, including water chutes that are not for the faint hearted, it’s certainly one of the better theme parks we have been to for younger children.

It was the last evening at the lodge, and a lovely one at that. We cooked a BBQ, cycled and walked some more around the immediate routes coming and going throughout the surrounding woodland. My family and I enjoyed our stay and overall I was very impressed with Darwin Country Park. If you wish to just relax in the peaceful woodland setting or “explore the great outdoors” it’s all there for you, whether cyclist, walker, climber or tourist.

Summer 2016

The next morning, we travelled to Matlock Bath again, this time for the Heights of Abraham, which first opened in the 1780s and is one of the top destinations in the entire Peak district. Entrance is by cable car which takes you to the summit of Masson hill being 1,111ft above sea level. There was of course stunning views over the Derwent valley and surrounding Peak district. Not having a problem with heights the rascals and I fully enjoyed the ride, while Angie did her best to hold on tightly and not look down. Once at the top, a fancy restaurant and café with amazing views awaits with a selection of attractions including guided tours of caverns running deep into Masson dating back 350 million years. Nearby stands Prospect Tower, a commanding landmark standing tall on the summit, built in 1844 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s reign. Visitors can today climb to the top and see for miles around.

43

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Treasure Hunt Penny Farthing & Clown&Bikes Vintage Bike Sportive Penny Farthing Clown Bikes rade Stands British Cycling are hosting Go Ride Racing Trade Vintage Bike Display Trade Stands Bike Display Team Bar Vintage Bike Display Cine t Bikes Trials usic Sportives Sports Massage Treasure Hunt Kirkby KirkbyLonsdale LonsdaleBrewery Brewery Bar Kiddies Races Trials Bike Display Team Treasure Hunt British Cycling are hosting Go Ride Racing British Cycling are hosting Go Ride Racing Grass Track Cinem Grass TrackBike D wn Bikes Catering Stands Live Music Kiddies RacesTrials Live Music Sportives Sports Mas ewery Watt Bikes Sportives Live Music Kiddies Races Cinema ve Music Grass TrackBritish Cycling are hosting Go Ride Rac Treasure Watt Bikes ls Bike Display Team Sports M Bar Hunt Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery Trade StandsVintageCatering Trade Sta Sports Massage Bike Display Bouncy Castle Stands rtives Cinema Treasure Hunt Trade Stands Cinema LiveBike Music Trials Display Team ure Hunt &Penny Farthing & Clown Bikes Vintage Bike Display 19 8 1 British are hosting Go Ride Racing e Trade Sta JunCycling rials Bike Display Team Bar Vintage Bike Display Bar

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Grass Track

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership unleashing potential through partnership

Sedbergh Gears Up for Inaugural Cycling Festival The fourth Sedbergh CycloSportive takes place on Sunday 19th June 2016, with the choice of two distances of 30 and 70 miles in the Howgills and Eden Valley, and Yorkshire Dales. The CycloSportive will be part of the town’s first two-day Sedbergh Cycling Festival on the 18th and 19th June. Registration for the races is from 07.30 at Sedbergh School’s Queen’s Hall off Loftus Hill, with the race starting at 09.00 from Queen’s Hall and finishing on Lupton Fields.

To register in advance, please visit www.sedberghschool. org/foundation.

The Cycling Festival, also on Lupton Fields on Back Lane, will be open from 10am each day on 18th and 19th June, with no entrance fee and only nominal charges for some activities. Cyclists and families will have a choice of cycling activities and courses. Activities will include a grass track meet, mountain biking, watt bikes, races for children, Trials cycle display team, a family treasure hunt and bouncy castles. Food stalls include The Three Hares, Ellie’s Crêpes and Pancakes, Howgills Ice Cream and a hog roast, and there will be live music, a film, camping, and a bar and Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery.

Jacky Baines, Event Organiser and owner of No.6 Finkle Street and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Room, said: “The idea for this event, and from others planned for 2016, came from Sedbergh needing to reinvent itself and to find a way of complementing the ‘book town’ aspect of our tourism.

We have some of the best mountain biking in the world here and are hoping to make this an annual event and put Sedbergh firmly on the map as a cycling destination.”

Richard Witt, Sedbergh School Foundation Director, said: “The 70-mile CycloSportive route includes the Côte de Buttertubs climb featured in the Tour de France in Yorkshire 2014, which is very challenging with more than 5,400 ft (2,000m) of ascent and a hilly route along nearly all of its length. The 30-mile route heads along Garsdaleʼn towards Kirkby Stephen, then to the Fat Lamb Inn at Ravenstonedale and back to Sedbergh. All entry fees and sponsorship money raised from the CycloSportive will go to the Roger Lupton Scholarships, providing a Sedbergh education for young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, and we have Sedbergh School cycling jerseys now available online.”

For more information please visit www.sedbergh.org.uk or email jacky@no6finklestreet.co.uk

Promotional Summer 2016feature

O

rganisers of the first Sedbergh Cycling Festival and of the fourth Sedbergh Sportive have revealed the programme of events for this June’s cycling event.

45 45

WORLD

Cycling World

Get in touch now to work with us - editorial@runningworldmagazine.co.uk

46

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17/05/16 17:27

Ask Anita Enjoying Bike Week

O

bviously, I believe cycling should be celebrated every second of every day, all year round. But having a special week to run events, and feel like part of a national movement is a brilliant way to bring bikes to more people’s attention, and I love see people all around the country scoffing free breakfasts as part of a drive to raise awareness and profile of the two-wheeled transport machine. The more people share the joy, the happier and healthier a nation we’ll be!

BREAKFAST IS BEST

Bike Breakfast by J.Bewley Sustrans

You can organise rides or any kind of thing you like, but to keep it simple, you can’t beat a bike breakfast.

Whether it’s for pupils at a school, workers at an office, or shoppers at a supermarket, everyone loves a good bike breakfast. Try to persuade someone with budget to fund some croissants and coffee, or smoothies, or even better – a full fry-up – for everyone who cycles in on a chosen day during Bike Week (11th -19th June).

SEE THE SOCIAL SIDE Bike Smoothie by J.Bewley Sustrans

Dr. Bike by J.Bewley Sustrans

Food is great, but people love a bit of chat too, and it’s good to have something to natter about. Bikes generally are always a never-ending source of conversation, but it can be good to have something specific there to get tongues wagging. See if your local council has cycling maps perhaps. Or maybe there’s a charity ride near you happening soon, could you form a team? At the very least, take along some of your back copies of Cycling World

and point and laugh at Ask Anita.

SPREAD THE WORD

It’s no use having an event and then just you turning up – you’ll get loads of breakfast, true, but you’ll have nobody to talk to about bikes.

Sad times. So promote the event, persuade people to dig their bikes out of their garage – you can offer to fix their punctures if you’re really kind, or direct them to somebody who can. Make some noise about the event, and about cycling generally – there will hopefully be so many people making noise that week it’ll be impossible to block it out! The Bike Week website is there to help.

BIKE YEAR

It’s just one week, but it can be a springboard to much more.

Get local rides going, talk to supermarkets, community centres, big up the humble bicycle all the time! At your workplace, you could lead on from a Bike Week breakfast by suggesting introducing a Cycle to Work scheme, or improving cycling facilities. If they need persuading, you can assure them there are loads of businesses out there who’ve seen huge financial benefits by encouraging cycling, even if they’ve not thought there was a demand. Ask Sustrans if you don’t believe me!

Bike Week is the perfect excuse to share your passion with as many people as possible. The world is full of inspiring people, and you are one of them! Get out there and inspire a nation of cyclists!

Regular Summer 2016

A

nita loves discovering new places by bike, having explored many miles of the National Cycle Network, and taken her trusty Ridgeback to roughly twenty countries so far. She does the occasional sportive, commutes by bike in London and Surrey and dabbles in triathlons, mountain biking and visiting cycling cafes. She currently works for the charity Sustrans as a project officer. Anita’s main area of expertise is surrounding herself with experts, whose knowledge she will extract to answer all of your everyday cycling questions…

I’ve always wanted to do something during Bike Week to celebrate the joy of bikes, but I’m not sure a) what to do or b) how to do it. What do other people do, and how can I copy them?

47 47

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Cycling World

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48

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15/07/2015 15:03

RIDE FUEL

By Tim Ramsden. Tim is an Association of British Cycling Coaches (ABCC) Level 3 Coach and owner of www.blackcatcyclecoaching.com

L

ast time I talked about how to develop a nutritional strategy in advance of a long sportive or challenge ride, or your own personal riding goal.

Now it’s time to get to the nitty-gritty…or, perhaps more appropriately given the subject matter, the “lunch date” itself!

So...

Aperitif:

A hydrated rider will perform better than a dehydrated one, so make sure that alcohol is kept to a minimum or avoided entirely for up to 2 days before the event. Drink normally the day before – but pay attention to hydration and, particularly if your event day is going to be hot, make sure that you are drinking water regularly through the pre-event day.

Planin

schek

, Sport

ograf

Amuse Bouche:

I would recommend carbohydrate-loading up to 2 days before the event, if the event is going to take you 3.5 hours or longer. The longer the event, the earlier you should start loading… so if your event is Sunday and is going to take 6 hours or more, reduce your training load 6 days before, on the Monday (but keep the intensity of training the same, just reduce the amount you do based on the previous week to 50% then 30% to 2 days before, then rest) …then start eating more pasta/rice/etc. on Friday.

How much? Well without being exact, try to put 1520% more carbs on your plate two days before (in each meal), and 25-35% more 1 day before (plus include small carb-rich snacks like an extra piece of bread/a rice cake etc. in between meals). On event day, have a big, carb-rich

breakfast too. The effect of this “load” is that your glycogen stores will be increased, leading to an increase in the time you can sustain optimal pace. Make sure, however, that the carbrich foods are not fat-rich also – and don’t be afraid to consume sugary foods like jam, honey and sugary drinks, as these are less likely to make you feel too “full” to eat more.

Starter:

The breakfast, as above – plus a tip for big sportive/Gran Fondo events is to take 1 or 2 extra bottles (that you must be prepared to lose) into the holding pen – 1 energy drink (but a little weaker than you would usually have) and 1 water. Sip from both while you wait to start, then place the bottles in a bin before you set off.

Main course:

Your nutritional strategy that you have practised in training…. and don’t start too hard in the event, ride yourself into it steadily to reduce the chances of “blowing up” and running out of fuel. Fuel often, keep sipping, avoid sports drinks you haven’t tried before (and gels) unless it is absolutely necessary (i.e. you are dreaming of chocolate bars because you are so hungry) – they can cause all sorts of problems if your stomach is unfamiliar with them.

Pudding:

Recovery drink…good carb and protein-based snack quickly…a good meal…and now’s the time for the celebration drink!

Finally, Coffee:

Caffeine gels or a caffeinated drink during the event will give you a boost – near the end especially. But – if you are sensitive to caffeine then limit to one or stay away from them, particularly if it is a hot day.

Summer 2016

Training & Nutrition

49

From the Workshop A NEW RIM ON YOUR OLD WHEEL

By Martial Prévalet

When a wheel dies it is often because the rim is worn out, replacing it gives a wheel new life.

The rim is the part which wears out fastest. If an old wheel is no longer produced a compatible rim needs to be found.

You can measure a rim’s width and see how worn it is. A rim that is too worn can break with tyre pressure

Examine each spoke and nut as sometimes they are twisted or cracked.

Also examine the hub

Remove all spokes.

On a back wheel or a disc wheel the spokes are not uniform length

Measure this distance « D ». ERD is « D + 2S ». Find a rim with the same ERD and number of spokeholes

Cycling Regular World

To place nuts easily in the rim, use another spoke

50

Tighten each nut partially, keeping tension low. Lubricate each nut

Remove rim by unscrewing every spoke nut. Take note of how each spoke crosses one another

A rim can also crack and break

Measure the Effective Rim Diameter (ERD).

First, measure spoke nut length.

This is « S »

Place two nuts in opposite holes of the rim

Assemble the wheel, placing spokes on the hub and on the rim

Tighten each spoke using a tensiometer and manufacturer’s guidelines

Place new rim tape, tube and tyre

Summer Summer 2016 2016

While dismantled clean the hub, spokes and the nuts

51

WIN A TOUR DE FRANCE PRINT

by Simon taylor

Win a limited edition giclée print by renowned artist Simon Taylor, worth £89. Just enter on the Cycling World Website.

Enter at: cyclingworldmag.co.uk/win-cycloc-solo

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. Employees of Cycling World or their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the competition or helping to set up the competition shall not be permitted to enter the competition.

2. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.

3. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter and the rules of the competition are via [http://.....................]

4. Closing date for entry will be 31 July 2016. After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted.

5. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.

LETTER OF THE MONTH Paul wins a Velo Hinge Home Bicycle Storage Dear Editor, The Feb article “Go-Ride: British Cycling Gets the Kids out There” was commendable as serious attempts are being made to engage children, but exposes itself as a sport initiative, failing to mention the most important aspect of cycling: leisure riding.

Most cycling groups nowadays use state-of-the-art clothes, bikes and gadgets. Gone are the days of ordinary clothes, any sort of bike and a saddlebag. There seems to be little care for our beautiful countryside. Furthermore, young people find that not only school life is regulated, but leisure time too. What about riding a bike for the sheer pleasure?

I’ve cycled all over the place but never entered a time trial or sportive. Let those who want to race join a racing club, but don’t imply that all cycling has to have a competitive element. Who teaches us leisure riding today- who tells newcomers that laid-back leisure cycling can be good for your well-being?

Come on- let’s open up the horizons for newcomers by showing them that there’s more to life than being quick or in some way better than the next rider.

Paul, Shewsbury

Share your thoughts...

 @CyclingWorlduk  @cyclingworld_uk

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52

Letter of the month wins a Velo Hinge Home Bicycle Storage.

Please keep sending your thoughts, feelings, ideas and insights about all things cycling.

Send letters to: Email: editor@cyclingworldmag.co.uk Post: Editor, Cycling World Magazine, Myrtle Oast, Kemsdale Road, Fostall, Faversham, Kent ME13 9JL We may edit your letter for brevity and/or clarity. We look forward to hearing from you.

Editor

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53

EDITOR’S BIKE REVIEW:

ISLABIKE CNOC 14 £249.99

Cycling World

I

54

like to think that summer and the Tour de France is a time to inspire younger riders and facilitate family cycling. When progressing my four-year-old from balance bike to pedals, an Islabike was a natural choice. They are designed with little people in mind and as a British Cycling Go-Ride coach I have seen young cyclists develop and race on these stylish, well-made Islabikes.

saddle is particularly impressive – slender and comfortable, allowing the legs to find an efficient position for pedalling.

The Cnoc comes in a range of sizes, the 14 (referring to the tyre size) being a good size for kids 92-102 cm in height. I am reluctant to state ages as children vary so much, but we’re looking at the 3-4 year-olds: it made a perfect fourth birthday present for my lad. Even more so as it came with his name painted on the frame. Nice touch.

Some of my fellow parents have baulked at the price. My thought is that it is money well-spent. First experiences must be positive for an activity to flourish into a passion; and this is what all cyclists want for their children. Moreover, these bikes hold value in a healthy second-hand bike market, so I am investing in the next Isla bike when he grows.

Lightness makes this an ideal starter bike, weighing a mere 5.79kgs. It is light enough for him to push and lift over kerbs, manoeuvrability being a key part of confidence building.

It’s a scaled-down version of proper bike, with proportional geometry and decent components. Small hands have been well-considered: the aluminium handlebars have a reduced diameter for safe handing.

Similarly, the brake levers are short reach and reactive, once again making small hands effective. The

Islabikes is celebrating its tenyear anniversary this year. It was founded in 2006 by renowned, British bicycle designer, Isla Rowntree, one of the few female designers in the industry at that time. Isla combines a wealth of experience from competing nationally and internationally with mechanical and engineering expertise, and she is now one of the world’s leaders in children’s bicycle design.

Easy maintenance is built-in; headset and bottom bracket have sealed bearings, there are fittings for no-tool stabilisers and the fullyenclosed, free-floating chainguard requires no tools for removal.

TECH SPEC Colours: Red / Green / Pink Size: 14" wheels, 8" frame Weight: 5.79kg (12lbs 12oz) - including pedals Frame: 7005 T6 heat treated aluminium Fork: Lightweight cro-moly Brakes: Aluminium mini V-brakes front and rear Levers: Islabikes micro levers, aluminium Tyres: 14 x 1.5 Kenda Small Block Eight Cranks: Aluminium 89mm Chainring: Aluminium 25t Freewheel Cassette: 14t

BIKE REVIEW:

£1635 BROMPTON

M6R-X TITANIUM

by Helen Hill Folded

Parked

Ready

TECH SPEC Handle bar: M type for upright position Gears: 6 speed 3-speed Sturmey Archer Hub and derailleur Mudguard/Rack: Version R incl. mudguards and rack Frame Material: Hinckley Steel/Titanium front fork and rear frame Wheels: Wilkinson 16inch Extremities Colour: Titanium Saddle Height: Standard Suspension: Standard Tyre: Brompton Kevlar Lighting: Rear only

It is a bike made for the commuter.

There is a built in back light and a carrier with bungee straps so that you can place a briefcase or bag on it. The model I rode is relatively light weight because it is the titanium version. It has six gears which enabled me to get up some testing hills. It was convenient having it folded up in the hallway so I could quickly unfold it and whizz around my village on it, even cycling to my local hostelry and folding it up and leaving it by the bar rather than having to risk leaving it outside. It is surprisingly fast for a bike with small wheels. I have also used it for rail commuting as it packs up easily and takes up little space on the train. I can now understand why they are so popular amongst city commuters. I also like the fact that despite its success worldwide it is still built in London. A real boost for British manufacturing.

Value for money: it is expensive but then you get what you pay for.

The high quality of the components and the little details like pictures of Brompton’s on the handlebars make it what it is. There are other folding bikes on the market but the Brompton was one the first and is probably at the top of the list for brand recognition. It also has a unique folding mechanism which, once mastered, is quicker and easier than any other you’ll come across.

Prices start at £785 for a basic steel model and then you can upgrade to titanium for an additional £600.

Additional features can be added, like panniers, lights, carrying case.

The model I was reviewing would cost you £1635 if you were to buy it through bike builder. Bike builder is a feature on the Brompton website that enables you to pick the features you want and personalise your bike. For example, choosing between 1, 3 and 6 gears; steel or titanium frame material, different frame colours. If you choose a single gear and steel it is actually lighter, albeit only 100g, and significantly cheaper (£930 and 11.4Kg) than the titanium version with 6 gears (£1635 and 11.5kg).

MY OVERALL OPINION: WOULD I BUY THIS BIKE?

Definitely if I was a regular commuter because it is so easy to use, keeps you fit and enables you to take it into your workplace without the worry of leaving it where it could get stolen. Also because it takes up so little space it is easy to store, ideal for people living in flats or without a garage.

My only concern would be taking the back wheel off with its hub gear if I got a puncture, but like unfolding the bike, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Summer 2016

T

he beautiful red Brompton arrived in my life one rainy morning at the end of January. When I first got it out of the box I had trouble working out how it unfolded but this was soon resolved by my fourteen-year-old son. Admittedly there is a bit of a knack to it but once you understand how it works it is easy to do. What I love about the Brompton is its simplicity: the fact that I can transport it easily, it fits into the back of the car so it is portable if you are travelling - there is no messing about taking wheels off and the folding mechanisms are sturdy, but you do need to make sure they are lined up properly and tightened fully.

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HINTS AND TIPS ON BUYING YOUR 1ST TANDEM

T

empted to try tandem riding?

Fed up of cycling 50 yards behind your partner? So what is your next step?

In an ideal world you’d visit your local cycle shop, give one a try, fall in love with it, then test ride several models and make a purchase. But the reality is that there are few shops which stock tandems nowadays. This is not because tandem riding has become unpopular; on the contrary, cycling is trendy these days, and tandem riding has shaken off its old fashioned image. Cycle shops don’t tend to stock tandems because few of the mainstream cycle manufacturers make them anymore. There are only a few exceptions to this; Dawes still make tandems, and after a gap of 4 years Cannondale came back onto the market, although the UK distributor doesn’t bring them into the UK for general sale and they are only available through us at JD Tandems.

different from that of a normal days riding. When tandem riding with one's significant other, the day may well be more about spending quality time together and visiting tea shops and places of interest, than chasing down the guy in front.

The vast majority of quality tandems sold in the UK are manufactured by specialist companies, which is good news for the buyer, because the tandems are designed and built by industry experts whose sole focus is tandems and they are therefore able to bring to the market a product designed and built with a great level of expertise.

How fit are you and how hilly is the area you will ride in? This will determine what sort of gearing you need. Be realistic, if you are not fit and live in a hilly area then mountain bike gears are a must. There is a vast array of gearing options available so have a chat with a tandem expert before making your decision.

contrary most tandems are designed for a taller front rider, and frame sizes are typically 4” bigger on the front than on the rear, so accommodating height differences such as that is not a problem. The challenge comes when trying to find a tandem to fit a much taller rear rider than the front rider. If this applies to you make sure you pick up the phone and have a chat with a tandem specialist who can advise you further.

Cycling JD Tandems World - Promotional feature

HINTS AND TIPS ON BUYING YOUR 1ST TANDEM

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If you live close to a specialist tandem retailer you are lucky; if not try and make the time to visit one – it will be a worthwhile experience. We appreciate that not all prospective tandem riders are able to spare the time to visit so below is our advice on buying a tandem from the comfort of your own home.

Firstly you need to decide what sort of riding you are going to do. The front rider is already a cyclist and so may have some opinions on the type of tandem they would like. The planned day's ride, however, may well be

Ask yourselves will you ride on tracks and trails? Or will it all be tarmac?

Will you tour on it or simply enjoy day rides, if you plan to tour, is it credit card touring or fully loaded up with camping equipment? What sort of distances per day do you envisage doing? The answers to the above will tell you if you need a 26” wheel tandem or a 700c; the latter being the standard for road riding. As a general rule of thumb, the 700c will roll faster on the road and makes a better choice for longer rides. The 26” wheel is more comfortable on tracks and trails and is slightly stronger so is a good choice for heavily laden touring.

Another important choice is whether to go for drop handlebars on the front or straight bars. Many tandem riders choose flat bars on the front, even if they ride drops on their solo.

How much to spend? Tandems are about the price of 2 solo bikes, so if you are used to riding a £5,000 solo, you may not enjoy the ride of an economically priced tandem.

Next consider sizing. Probably the most common misconception we hear is that 'the front rider is a foot taller than the rear rider, how on earth can we find a tandem to fit!' On the

If you would like us here at JD tandems to advise you on sizing, then email us or give us a call – if you can have the following information available then this will help us enormously. Firstly make sure you that take the measurements off a bike that is comfortable – there’s no point in measuring something that doesn’t fit. Measure your ride heights as per the image below. If your rear rider doesn’t already have a bike then an inside leg measurement will do. We also need to know what the distance is from the nose of the saddle to the centre of the handlebars and whether or not you like your saddle level with your handlebars or higher or lower, and by how much. We can then set up the appropriate size tandem to your dimensions and send you a picture.

Many cyclists nowadays have a bike fit done. If you have one and it works for you, we would be pleased to see it, but do take into account as mentioned earlier that your agenda when riding the tandem might well be very different to that when riding solo.

Tandem riders often have a more relaxed position than on their solo, particularly if the bike fit has been done for performance riding.

There is plenty for you to consider before taking the leap and making your first purchase, and attention to the above should ensure two happy riders!

SPOTLIGHT ON THE

VELOCITY RANGE 6 models from £1550–£2700

Flat handlebars & drop handlebars models

JD Tandem editorial

700c wheels

Winter Sale ends soon 01756 748400 www.orbittandems.co.uk93 Cycling World February 2016

Summer 2016

4 different size frames

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Vision System

CyclingSystem Vision World - Promotional feature

Wi-fi Cycle Camera

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T

his handlebar mounted bike camera records the action ahead of you, while its wide-angle mirror lens gives you a view of what's coming from behind.

Easily control video and snapshot modes on the camera, or by wi-fi through a smartphone app that allows reviewing and downloading.

Bright, color-coded LED indicators tell you exactly what's going on.

The mounting bracket is high grade aluminum for a secure fit and minimal vibration. A universal ball joint allows for a complete 360° positioning of the camera, which means you can take selfies while you're on the road! After your ride, simply download the files to your smartphone, relive and keep your adventure or show your friends what they missed.

The Vision System Wi-fi Cycle Camera comes in 3 popular colors--Black, White and Canary Yellow.

Experience

that perfect ride one more time.

K source

Wi-Fi CYCLE CAMERA

Wi-Fi Bicycle/Motorcycle Camera

With our bike camera, you can watch that trail run you did this morning again and again, and share the excitement with your family and friends. If it was your best ride ever, wouldn’t you want to prove it?

- Records the action while you ride - Wi-fi control through smart phone - Video and snapshot modes - 360° pivot for selfies - Minimal vibration, polished aluminum mounting bracket - 3-7/8” (9.84cm) extra wide angle mirror lens - Colorful LED indicators

Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221 www.ksource.org

Black

White

Color LED indicators

Yellow

Mounts easily to handlebar

Summer 2016

3-7/8” 9.84 cm

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Cycling World

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60

TOUR DE FRANCE With Le Grand Départ in Normandy, we’re inspiring you to explore the region and enjoy all the wonderful destinations that impress you during the TV coverage.

We’re also looking at iconic mountain stages, how to ride stages and top TdeF books and art. So “Allez” and enjoy the Tour!

Summer 2016

By Frans Berkelaar

61

Tour de France

Cap de la Hague Rocher du Castel-Vendon

Cap Lévy

Pointe de Barfleur

D901

Grand Départ Normandy

St-Pierre-Église St-Pierre-Église

Querqueville

Beaumont-Hague

Réville

Vauville

N13

les Pieux

Valognes N13

Bricquebec

Montebourg

D2

D650

C

Barneville-Carteret

o

Sa n e Ma e du Mon Baie Grandcamp- Pointe du Hoc Maisy des Veys

D900

Port-Bail

t

ou

D

D903 D650

e

D903

St-Laurentsur-Mer

ve

t

Pirou

N13 Drô

m

Tilly-surSeulles

D900 n

PontHébert

Lo zo

St-SauveurSt-Sa uveurLendelin

C A L V A D O S

N174

Coutances

D999

Torigni-sur-Vire

S o ulles

Pointe d'Agon

Quettrevillesur-Sienne

Tessy-sur-Vire

Cérences

Percy

Sie nn e

Gavray

D999

D924

D973

Thar

Hirel

Cherrueix

Le ValSt-Père

Dol-deBretagne

MiniacMorvan

Épiniac

Sée

34

Ducey

MONT SA NT M CHEL PleineFougères

St-James St-J ames

Bonnemain Meillac Pleugueneuc

Bazougesla-Pérouse

Combourg

31

Antrain Tremblay

D155

E3 A84

St-Brice-en-Coglès

D977

les LogesMarchis

32

D975

Louvignédu-Désert

Messei

Domfront

D976

Le Teilleul

D18

O R N E

Barenton Notre-Damedu-Touchet

D962

D976

Passais Landivy

Flers

La FerrièreLonlayaux-Étangs l'Abbaye D962

Mortain

D976

Sélun e

Pontorson D155

Isigny-le-Buat

Chanu Ger

N175 33

D924

Sourdeval D977

E3 A84

N176

D962

D924

N o ir e a u

Avranches

D75

D137

Athis-de-l'Orne

D577

Tinchebray

St-Père Mont-Dol

Condésur-Noireau

Egrenne

St-Méloirdes-Ondes

D512

Brécey

36

Baie du Bec d'Andaine Mont-St-Michel

e

g Vassy

D524

E401 E3

A84

St-Coulomb

D76

a

Sartilly

Champeaux

St-Jouandes-Guérets

c

D908 D976

Juvignysous-Andaine Ceaucé yenne Ma

nt arenne

Jullouville Pointe de Champeaux

Cancale

Drua n

o

D524

Villedieules-Poêles

La HayePesnel

Mont Pinçon

D674

B

St-SeverCalvados

37

St-Pair-sur-Mer

D355

E401 E3

A84 38

365

D577

39

ce

D9

Donville-les-Bains

Granville

Aunaysur-Odon

40

276 Mont Robin

Hambye

Île Longue Pointe du Roc

Villers-Bocage

M A N C H E

D7

Bréhal

43

42

E401

A84

45

n Odo

44

41

D971

Îles Chausey

Grande-Île

Caumontl'Éventé

N174

Vire

M A N C H E

ulles Se

D972

Agon-Coutainville

47 46

Marigny Blainville-sur-Mer

36

o

Cycling Cyc ng Wor World d

Creully 37

e

C ol m

The Bay of the Mont Sa nt M che boasts one of the argest t da ranges n the wor d the Bay of Fundy n Canada has the b ggest range a ow ng you to en oy the extraord nary spectac e of h gh t des marked by except ona y h gh waters Once

Taut

V ir e

62

Dom nat ng the fort fied v age and ts charm ng anes the Abbey of the Mont Sa nt M che bears testament to the arch tectura mastery of ts med eva bu ders t cons sts of over 20 chambers among them a pre Romanesque chape Romanesque re g ous bu d ngs a Goth c w ng known as the Marve and the F amboyant Goth c cho r end to the Abbey church

Bayeux

N174

s

Périers D2

non ues Co

THE BAY OF MONT-SA NT-M CHEL L STED “WORLD HER TAGE” BY UNESCO

N13

n

Gold Beach

e

Créances

Port-en-BessinHuppain

A ure 38

i e Sèv

Isignysur-Mer

N13

Om aha Beac h

N13

D971

D900

Lessay

e Vir

Carentan

n

STAGE 1 SATURDAY 2 JULY 2016 - MONTSAINT-MICHEL > UTAH BEACH 188 km

UTAH BEACH

Ste-MèreSte-Mè Ste-MèreÉglise

St-SauveurSt-Sauveurle-Vicomte

Cap de Carteret

ENJOY THE S GHTS OF THE GRAND DÉPART

Île de Tatihou

St-Vaast-la-Hougue D902

Do uve

Pointe du Rozel

The county s range of andscape and her tage has made t an ncred b y popu ar tour st dest nat on ts unspo t coast ne of over 350km stretches between p cturesque bays s ands capes havens creeks and ong sandy beaches n and s a m x of marsh ands and pasture ands the atter separated by anc ent hedges known as e bocage La Manche a so boasts the argest network of county roads n France – dea for cyc ng

Pointe de Saire

Quettehou

D650

Flamanville

H

M A N C H E

Pointe du Moulard

Tourlaville

de

Cap de Flamanville

av ng started n Yorksh re n 2014 and n Utrecht n Ho and n 2015 the Tour de France 2016 Grand Départ returns to France w th three stages tak ng p ace n La Manche Normandy Each Grand Départ makes a great mpress on aunch ng the start of the best known cyc e race n the wor d wh ch asts three weeks every year n 2016 La Manche and Normandy w be n the spot ght over three days at the start of Ju y benefitt ng from the broadcast ng n 190 countr es around the g obe 60 of wh ch w be cover ng events ve The Tour s r ders w cr sscross the who e reg on of La Manche from the three stage towns then cross ng 137 communes French par shes or mun c pa t es to reach two fin sh towns w th some magn ficent panoramas to en oy a ong the way cover ng 435km n a a record d stance for a Grand Départ

Barfleur

D901

Équeurdrev Équeurdreville-

Anse

Lassayles-Châteaux

Summer 2016

by Lerouge Marc Photographies, CDT Manche

63

the high tide reaches a certain height, seawater isolates the Mount from the mainland twice a day. Legend has it that the sea here advances at the speed of a galloping horse.

UTAH BEACH AND SAINTE-MÈRE-EGLISE

On 6th June 1944 and during the following weeks, Normandy was the theatre of a decisive phase of the Second World War: the D-Day Landings. In La Manche, many museums are dedicated to the story of American parachute drops around Sainte-Mère-Église, the landings on Utah Beach, military architecture and the lives of the soldiers and the inhabitants of the region.

Created in 1962, where American troops landed on 6th June 1944, the Landings Museum in Utah Beach offers a large collection of objects and testimonies devoted to D-Day.

STAGE 2 / SUNDAY 3 JULY 2016 - SAINTLÔ > CHERBOURG-EN-COTENTIN 182 km SAINT-LÔ EQUESTRIAN AND NATIONAL STUD CENTRE

PROF L DE L ARR VÉE F N SH PROF LE Cap de la Hague Pointe Jardeheu Baie d'Escalgrain

Rocher du Castel-Vendon

Nez de Jobourg

Querqueville

Beaumont-Hague

de

Pointe de Barfleur

St-Pierre-Église St-Pierre-Église

Anse du Brick

D901

Tourlaville

ÉqueurdrevilleHainneville

Anse

Cap Lévy

Grande Rade de Cherbourg-Octeville

D901

N13

CHERBOURG OCTEV LLE

Vauville

D650

Flamanville Cap de Flamanville

Pointe de Saire

Île de Tatihou

Quettehou

La Dielette

M A N C H E

D902

N13

Dou

Les Pieux

St-Vaast-la-Hougue

ve

Saint-Lô’s National Stud Centre (the Haras National de Saint-Lô) forms a glorious architectural ensemble, dating from the 19th century, set around a magnificent courtyard.

Cradle of the Selle Français breed, a sport horse par excellence, the stud also takes in stallions of other breeds.

G anv e by Le ouge Ma c Pho og aph es CDT Manche

OU G O

The Airborne Museum stands in the heart of Sainte-Mère-Église, opposite the bell tower from which US paratrooper John Steele famously remained dangling by his parachute for some time during the night preceding D-Day. The museum is the largest in Europe dedicated to American paratroopers, specifically those of the 82nd and 101st Divisions, who played such a vital role at the outset of the 1944 Normandy landings.

Anse de Sciotot

Valognes N13

Pointe du Rozel La Mare-du-Parc

Îles St-Marcouf

Montebourg

Bricquebec D2

St-SauveurSt-Sauveurle-Vicomte

Port-Bail D903

Varenguebec Doville

ou

Neufmesnil D650

D903

Mont La Haye- Castre du-Puits 130

Formigny

A ure

N13

C A L V A D O S

St-Jean-de-Daye

Raids

Le Hommetd'Arthena d'Arthenay

Taute

St-Clair- Cerisysur-l'Elle la-Forêt

St-SauveurSt-SauveurLendelin

PontHébert

Ancteville

La Violette

Servigny St-Malode-la-Lande

Marigny

Camprond

Dr

N174

Rouxeville LÔ SA NT

St-Gilles

Monthuchon

Baudre

D972

Caumontl'Éventé

Canisy

Agon-Coutainville

Coutances St-Pierrede-Coutances

St-Samsonde-Bonfossé

Nicorps

Lauriolle

Montmartin-sur-Mer

So

Annoville

Torignisur-Vire

Hambye

Cérences

Bréhal

Sie nn e

N174

Domjean

Tessy-sur-Vire

D971

cqueville-sur-Mer

40

39

Abbayede-Hambye

Gavray

E401 41

A84

D999

D7

Lingreville

St-Amand

u ll e s

Quettrevillesur-Sienne

276 Le MesnilCoq

D9

Percy

D674 D577

D999

ville-sur-Mer Donville-les-Bains D971E

38

Pointe du Roc

D924

Granville

Just reopened in June, the Quasar and the

Isignysur-Mer

D900

Pointe d'Agon

In the Espace Titanic, learn how the magnificent, ill-fated ocean liner made its French stop in Cherbourg in 1912, shortly before its sinking by an iceberg. Relive the events from its stop here until the tragic accident

N13

e Vir

Om aha Beac h

D971

s

Périers

Le Bringard

Blainville-sur-Mer

N13

Carentan

Le Buisson

D2

Gouville-sur-Mer

St-Laurent-sur-Mer

N174 e Sèv

Créances

Anneville-sur-Mer

Pointe et Raz de la Percée

Vierville-sur-Mer

M A N C H E Lessay

M A N C H E

Vierville

ve

La Campagne

D900

Pirou

Pointe

Grandcamp- du Hoc Maisy du-Mont GéfosseFontenay

e

St-Lô-d'Ourville

Baie des Veys

Ste-Marie-du-Mont

Beuzevillela-Bastille Houesville

D900

ôm

Besneville

Vire

St-Georgesde-la-Rivière

Ste-MèreSte Ste-Mè -MèreÉglise Chefdu-Pont

Rauvillela-Place

n

St-Jeande-la-Rivière

Lo zo

Barneville-Carteret Carteret Cap de Carteret Barneville-Plage

Vire

Cycling Cyc ng Wor World d

HauttevilleBocage

D

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City of Art and Heritage, Cherbourg is dominated by the “Roule Mountain” (117 m). Protected by the largest artificial harbour in the world, Cherbourg is a sailing resort of international repute, welcoming cruise ships and hosting major nautical events. The port of Cherbourg is also home to the Cité de la Mer, offering the discovery of the underwater world. Situated on Cherbourg’s seafront it is one of Normandy’s unmissable family attractions, dedicated to mankind’s adventures under the oceans. You can also board Le Redoutable, the largest submarine open to visitors in the world, and admire the seventeen tanks making up the Pôle Océan area, packed 1,200 colourful fish.

Ravenoville

Le Ham

D650 Hatainville

ach Be ah Ut

CHERBOURG, GATEWAY TO AMERICA

37

St-Pair-sur-Mer

A84

D973

Thar

La HayePesnel

VilledieuLes-Poêles

St-SeverCalvados D524

Vire

E3

Sartilly

D512 D524

E401

Jullouville

D577

Mont Saint Michel by ©Anibas Photography, CDT Manche

Thomas Henry Museum has enjoyed a four-year makeover. The museum’s works of art can be enjoyed in new rooms with a fun and educational trail allowing families to discover the secrets and particularities of each exhibit. There is also an app describing 30 selected works of art, and tactile tablets available free of charge at the museum entrance.

STAGE 3: MONDAY 4 JULY 2016 - GRANVILLE > ANGERS 222 km GRANVILLE

The sea-facing town of Granville with its delightful old town, surrounded by ramparts, retains many traces of an eventful past, marked by the presence of privateers and “terre-neuvas” (fishing boats that sailed to Newfoundland in the 16th Century.) The fashion designer Christian Dior holds an important place in this town, his birthplace. The lively resort of Granville offers cultural, leisure and sporting activities and departures by boats to the islands of Chausey and Jersey. It is also well-known for its local delicacies, particularly seafood, whelks and clams.

CYCLING IN LA MANCHE

Cyclists and mountain bikers can explore the natural treasures of La Manche and discover local heritage with the numerous bike routes of the region. From leisurely rides to more advanced routes, the riches of La Manche are revealed with each stroke of the pedal.

In western Normandy, the county of La Manche boasts portions of three themed, national cycle routes that are accessible to a whole range of cyclists. Certain sections of the national trails may not be entirely completed yet, but these cycle routes are all easy to follow through La Manche, allowing cyclists to enjoy the beauty of the county’s landscapes and the richness of its Norman heritage at their own pace.

- La Véloscénic, is a 434 km long route linking Paris to the Mont-Saint-Michel, via Chartres and Normandy.

The route includes 166 km of “voies vertes”. www. veloscenic.com

- The “Tour of la Manche” (European project “Cycle West”) links Normandy and Brittany to the South West of England with 1,200 km of cycle routes. en.tourdemanche.com Key sites on the routes: - The Vire Valley – the Rocks of Ham: the ride is a little steep and off route but the views over the countryside and the river from the top of the cliff (105 m high) are well worth the detour.

- Mortain and the waterfalls. Leave your bike behind to enjoy a little walk to a splendid waterfall. Steps lead visitors down the deep green and shaded gorge.

As for the great waterfall, it is very impressive with its fast flowing water, 25 metre drop and remarkable rocky environment.

- The arrival at the Mont-Saint-Michel from the track along the river Couesnon.

Summer 2016

Sainte-Mere-Eglise by Thierry Houyel, CDT Manche

- The “D-Day Beaches / Mont Saint-Michel” route is 230 km long and combines “voies vertes” (130 km) and country lanes. www.debarquementmontsaintmichel-avelo.com

65

ACCUEIL VÉLO ACCREDITED ACCOMMODATION Running hotels, chambres d’hôtes (B&Bs), campsites, and holiday lets (gîtes): 57 accommodation providers in La Manche have been accredited with the Accueil Vélo label.

An Accueil Vélo establishment guarantees that cycling tourists will find accommodation less than 5km from an official cycle route that: • Provide facilities suitable for cyclists, such as a bicycle shelter and maintenance facilities • Offer a warm welcome, hosts providing useful

information and advice for cyclists (for example on local cycle routes and the weather) • Offer, in certain cases, additional services of use to cyclists such as: luggage transfer, facilities for washing and drying clothes, bike hire/accessories hire, or bike wash facilities.

For further information: www.manchetourisme.com

Cherbourg Port by M Mochon,CDT Manche

Jullouville by Lerouge Marc Photographies,CDT Manche

L’ÉTAPE GRAND DÉPART: RIDE LIKE A PRO Sunday 26 June: RIDE LE MONT-SAINT-MICHEL > UTAH BEACH

Cycling World

This year, Amaury Sport Organisation (or A.S.O., organiser of the Tour de France), in conjunction with the Association du Grand Départ and the regional and county cycling associations are offering an exceptional bike ride that is open to all. Entitled L’Étape Grand Départ, it enables amateur cyclists from around the world to try out the opening stage of the 2016 Tour de France a few days before the professional race sets off. The route follows the legendary stage Le Mont-Saint-Michel > Utah. Participants can opt from three different levels of length and difficulty, choosing the route to suit their abilities.

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The 3 route options: • Grand Parcours (Grand route): 190km (Mont-Saint-Michel – Utah Beach - Carentan) • Parcours Intermédiaire (Intermediate route): 85km (Lessay – Utah Beach – Carentan) • Petit Parcours (Short route): 48km (Montebourg – Utah Beach – Carentan) L’Étape du Grand Départ will lead the participating cyclists along roads also used by motorised traffic. To ensure the smooth running of this event, 300 volunteers will help signal the way and ensure safety along the whole route. L’Étape du Grand Départ Village will be set up in Carentan, on Place du Grand Valnoble square. Here, participants will find car parks, secure bicycle parking facilities, shuttle buses, and registration.

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Book Review: Tour de France Legendary Climbs

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Poels

a nd P

orte le ad

Froom e thro ugh D utch c

ffside

orner, 2015 b yO

Presss ports

Schleck brothers lead on Ventoux, Stage 20 2009 by Offside L'Equipe

Author: Published: Price: ISBN: Reviewer:

Richard Abraham Carlton Books, June 2016 £25, Hardback 9781780977904 David Robert

I

t takes something special to stand out when every year sees a peloton of Tour de France books. This one makes a successful break away by doing something original. It uses satellite imagery created by Goole Earth to highlight the paths to the twenty key summits featured.

The imagery is quite stunning and brings these climbs, well-known by name, to dramatic life.

Beyond this it is brimming with over 220 stunning photos, from the golden era to the modern day, mainly from Offside Sports Photography. The selection is varied, capturing the fans’ passion, the riders’ efforts, the media’s and team support’s diligence. Above all the magnificence of the landscape is ever-looming.

Cycling World

It’s more than just a “livre de table basse” (table de café is too literal) as the text makes good reading. Richard Abraham is a cyclist, author and journalist who has covered the Tour for Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport. He recounts tales of historic landmarks, the heroes of past Tours and the famous towns and villages on the hallowed climbs.

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Like the toughest of the climbs which rank as “hors categorie,” the book is also “beyond classification.” A history book, a tourist guide, a photographic volume.

Certainly a good read.

mit, Stage 15 2013

ux sum Froome on Vento

by Offside L'Equipe

orts

side Pressesp , 2007 by Off 47 by Offside

ts shower, 19

Jean Robic ge

L'Equipe

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Col de l'Iseran

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Mountain Mayhem

by Matt Ellis, co-owner of Vanelli Cycling

T

he Magic of the Tour De France not only captivates but fascinates millions of people from all corners of the planet. Some of them will be cyclists themselves, men and women who have felt the pain and the pleasure of riding the exact same roads as their Tour heroes. For the vast majority though, the chance to visit France let alone ride a bike on the hallowed tarmac of the French roads is nothing more than a dream.

The Tour is the most televised annual sporting event, it is screened to every continent on Earth. Everyone will have their own personal reason as to the allure of this sporting feat. Many of us enjoy the sprint stages, 200km of cat and mouse racing where the breakaway or escapees are given only so much time before they are reeled in and the sprinter teams take over. Five hours of dangling forlornly off the front only to be caught, sometimes, just metres from the line. This is where sprinters, who have remained hidden and protected by their team mates, pop out in the last 50metres to claim their prize, the ultimate prize of a Tour stage victory. The escapees, having been caught, often face the ignominy of nothing more winning the day’s most combative rider award. Their prize sometimes as superficial as a lump of cheese provided by the day’s sponsor and the dreams of a career changing victory quashed for another year.

Cycling World

For some fans, they would watch for no other reason than to share in the beauty of the French countryside, France is after all, one of the most visited countries in the world. With its vast contrasts in geography, it’s easy to see why millions of people fall in love with its rich culture and heritage, the rolling countryside of the Brittany coastline to the flat roads of the west coast.

Great vistas of sunflower fields, deep gorges, ancient hill top villages and magnificent chateaux. Unarguably, one of the most awe inspiring and iconic sights of the Tour is when it reaches the mountains of which France has many. These huge pieces of rock, thrust in the path of the poor souls partaking, almost like some cruel game that is being played out by organisers, sponsors and fans alike, with the cyclists themselves as the suffering pawns. The harder, longer or steeper the road climbs, the more agony the riders have to endure and the louder we cheer. We cheer in front of our TV screens, we shout from our bar stools and we bellow and applaud from the road sides, millions of us watch on the mountainside, whether it’s the Tourmalet, Madeleine, Ventoux or L’Alpe D’Huez.

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Some have camped out for days, high in the clouds but so many more have walked or cycled up. Walked and cycled up to watch with their own eyes, the greatest free sporting event in the world. Huge swathes of supporters shuffling up the mighty cols stripped down to their shorts and often not much else. In 35C degrees, this too is arduous, laden down with cool boxes, hampers, umbrellas, cowbells and newspapers. We must not forget the flags, French, British, Australian, Norwegian and Dutch, this only scratches the surface of the myriad of nationalities lining the roadside, but make

no mistake this is no football match. There is a mutual respect, sympathy and adoration for each and every rider that toils upwards.

The preparation for the organisers of the Tour is of mammoth proportions. This is a three week event spanning the whole country. For the fans planning a visit to a Tour stage, this too requires almost military precision panning. The Gendarmerie (French police) will close the road that the race uses many hours in advance. Depending on the logistics of the day, a mountain road can be closed off to non-Tour vehicles as early as they decide appropriate. Once the road is closed, that is that, there is no scope for negotiation and no amount of eyelash fluttering or hundred euro bribes (not that we’ve tried either) will get them to relent. Woe betide anyone who tries to ignore, request or sneak through a back way, this is the Tour and like no other cycle race in the world.

Culprits won’t face the guillotine or be exiled to St Elba but the police take their jobs seriously. Seasoned spectators will simply abandon their cars at a sole place in the valley and start the walk up to where they feel is a good vantage point. As a rule of thumb, the most exciting racing takes place on the higher slopes, therefore spectators will make huge efforts to gain elevation. As some cols are 30 km in length, this can be a daunting undertaking. With the Tour being a cycle race it is quite reasonable to assume that thousands of fans will actually cycle up the mountain, this is the purist way of seeing the Tour.

Along with the appreciation of the professional exertions only hours away, the applause and the encouragement by the throngs of already situated supporters is hugely uplifting. The mutual sharing of the occasion is a win-win situation. The rider gets a huge boost for their efforts and the standing spectators get something to relieve the boredom and anticipation of what awaits. Only at the Tour can words of encouragement be heard in thirty different languages.

There is very often a period of an hour or two when pitches have been claimed, picnics eaten and beers consumed. Focus then will be on the distant buzz of the helicopters. Aside from the hideous spectacle of the Tour caravan, the distant hum of the helicopter blades is the first evidence of the race proper. It’s from these helicopters that aerial images of the race are beamed all over the world.

Oh yes, I almost forgot the Tour caravan! If there is one spoke in the Tour wheel, which I openly hold contempt for, it’s this. The Caravan is a procession of sponsor vehicles that precede the riders by several hours. Within the Caravan are vehicles of all shapes and sizes, carrying anything from a twenty-foot plastic sausage to scantily clad girls strapped on to the rooves spraying water or launching tat into the crowds, who scrap and battle for cheap keyrings or cotton caps emblazoned with the sponsors logos; a necessary evil perhaps in this modern corporate era.

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1 of 21 hairpins on Alpe D'Huez, 1992 by Offside Sports, from Tour de France Legendary Climbs

Cycling World

Once the helicopters are in sight, the apprehension is palpable, the lead cars cut through the crowds protected by police motorbikes and even more cars. The crowds get noisier and noisier, then out of nowhere, the riders appear. They travel uphill at a speed unfathomable to most, it’s almost impossible to pick out who is who, the leader adorned in the famous yellow jersey often tucked away amongst his domestiques, or helpers. The whole spectacle is a frantic mix of colour and noise, the cheering reaches a crescendo and then they are gone, the wall of noise rises up the mountain like a wave, like a tsunami it climaxes at the summit where it can go no further, lapping at the top it subsides as the riders hurl themselves down the other side of the mountain. The waves of riders and noise aren’t finished yet though, there are pockets of riders battling up the mountain, riders who have been maybe working for their respected leaders and that physically can give no more, some of whom have pushed the pace for mile after mile until their tanks are empty.

Riders who have suffered mechanical issues, crashes or who are simply victims of what the French call “jours sans”, this literally translates to “day without”- that inexplicable feeling that there is nothing in the body, nothing else to force the legs round.

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The last group on the road is referred to as the autobus, this is the group who band together to try and evade the dreaded time limit. It’s not enough to merely finish each stage, but to finish within a certain time frame determined by several factors, including the winner’s time and the severity of the stage. This band of brothers share the same goal of finishing the race. The group will allocate a rider, often one of the tour veterans, who will calculate the speed needed to reach the finish within the cut.

Here we have sprinters and the bigger, heavier riders whose physiques hinder them in the high mountains, here they ride beside champions past and present. In the autobus, reputation counts for nothing

and only survival matters.

Very occasionally, and often heart-breaking to witness, are the few riders that sometimes lag behind the autobus, maybe a crash or illness has forced them back. These are the injured antelope of the tour, when it’s more a question of when, rather than whether, they will be devoured by the lion which in this case is the broom wagon. The broom wagon is the last vehicle that sweeps up the riders that really have reached the end of the road; once inside and their numbers are taken off, it’s a long, lonely depressing drive to the finish for those poor souls whose Tour is over.

After the frenzy and the excitement has died down and the riders, cars, motorbikes and entourage have disappeared across the mountain, the hoards descend. Pedestrians, cyclists, cars and motor homes all heading the same way down. Sunburnt faces talk of the day’s events, talk of who looked strong and those that didn’t. Transistor radios blurt out the on-going progress of the race or reveal the winner of that day, which riders are thrust in to the limelight or face the pain of obscurity.

The whole day goes by so fast, the actual action condensed into a mere couple of minutes.

Far better coverage could be seen on TV from the comfort of your own living room or through the cool glass of Belgium beer. That though would be to miss the point entirely, watching the Tour from the heat of the roadside or the chill of the mountain top is the experience, a shared experience of agony and ecstasy. Something that will draw you back to the mountains time and time again.

Vanelli Cycling produce custom club clothing and a stylish, limited edition range. Matt was also a cycle guide for Alpcycles which set the standard for professionally run road cycling camps in the French Alps www.vanellicycling.com www.alpcycles.com

Cycle the Solway Sunday 17th July 2016

10km, 20km, 50km and 100km routes around the Solway coast

In aid of

The four routes provide the perfect challenge for cyclists of all abilities and ages, as they pass through the picturesque Solway Coast in Cumbria.

Registered Charity Number 1008796

This year’s Cycle the Solway will be the final time the event is staged and we hope to see you there.

Summer 2016

For more information or to sign up please visit: www.cyclethesolway.co.uk or call the fundraising team on 01228 817613

For five years hundreds of fundraisers have helped raise over ÂŁ50,000 in aid of Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw at the annual Cycle the Solway event, organised by Scott Self Storage.

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76 Cyclopark_Hopfields_Ad_02.indd 1

02/06/2016 15:16

Film Review:

Detour De France

T

Review by: David Robert Director: Dan Jones Production: Accent Film Entertainment and Empire Concepts 2006 Duration: 91 min Certificate: PG as mild course language Available: www.bromleyvideo. com, a wealth of cycling videos, books, prints and clothing

his film offers an original look inside the Tour. It centres on three Australians reporting on the 2005 edition, when Lance made it seven wins. Two are journalists and third is most definitely not, though he eats and drinks like one. Ironically, he snags the best interviews in the film.

stubbing the butt out on his stem.

The drunken rowdy behaviour of Bill Schwarzenberg can get tiresome; you’d hope his wife’s presence would tone him down a bit, but unfortunately not. But you can’t help smiling when he tries to get an interview with “Neil” (Lance) Armstrong or gets drunk on Retard (Ricard).

The three bring a very Australian humour to the coverage, making it more of a lark around a sporting event than reportage.

This does allow the layman to enter in, getting a taste and an understanding through explanations of terminology, strategy and the mechanics of the race.

There are interviews with cycling luminaries such as Lance Armstrong, Bernard Hinault, Robbie McEwen, Cadel Evans and Stuart O’Grady. There are even guest appearances from Sheryl Crow and presidential candidate John Kerry.

Just as the antics start to grate a bit the film brings you back to the harsh realities of the sport. We are taken to the unveiling of the monument to Fabio Casartelli, on the tenth anniversary of his death during a descent in the 1995 Tour. We then cut to the tragic death of Australian cyclist Amy Gillet, who on the very day of the unveiling was killed by a motorist in a team training ride in Germany.

There is some serious sports coverage as John “Iffy” Trevorrow is an ex-pro and then journalist for Cyclingnews.com. He was Australian National Road Race Champion and rode the Giro d’Italia in 1981; even then his unique humour was evident. He became known as “The Smoking Kangaroo” as he’d smoke a fag for the cameras before a stage,

Certainly a fresh look at the Tour which devotes as much time to a trip to the Moulin Rouge as it does to the final stage.

If you don’t take your tour too seriously you can sit back with a glass of Retard and enjoy this film.

Summer 2016

Price: £6.99

10th Stage 2005. Jens Voigt in Yellow just for the day by Mike Knell

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LE TOUR PRODUCTS: CYCLING PRINTS Peter Spells Peter works as an artist/illustrator in the South of England and has always had a keen interest in cycling. He regularly goes over to France with the bike due to the convenient proximity and find the roads very quiet and the scenery spectacular. He either takes a tent or stays in reasonably priced accommodation.

His work is produced digitally and prints are available as limited editions from £40.00 each. www. peterspells.co.uk 07908585703

Limited Edition Prints: Simon Taylor

Cycling World

Giclée are the perfect special gift for enthusiasts of cycle racing.

They are printed on fine quality paper measuring 450 x 326 mm.

Each edition is limited to just 195 copies and cost £89 each.

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Simon was well known throughout the 1990s for his Formula 1 driver portraits, and in 1996 was nominated as best selling published artist. Since becoming a fan of the Tour de France Simon has developed a style which is a modern take on the art deco posters of the 1920s and 30s using bold areas of flat colour tricking the eye into seeing three dimensional forms.

To purchase prints, visit www.simon-taylor.com

Win a Simon Taylor Print on page 52

tour log book review

Le Tour Products: Book Review

Le Tour Race Log Author: Publisher: Date: Format: Pages: ISBN: Price: Review by:

Claire Beaumont Laurence King 2/5/16 Paperback 128 9781856699860 £12.95 Richard Peploe

A

lot of books about the Tour de France have been coming out this year, but first out of the blocks by a long way was this one: Le Tour Race Log devotes a few pages to every stage, covering the main results, the jersey wearers, the weather conditions, and any relevant incidents.

There are a few pages of explanation about the race, but this is not going to be your race guide book: it won’t tell you about the teams, the riders, the dates, or even the race route. There will be many other publications that will give that information closer to the time, and you will still need one of those by your side. In fact, the book has so little information that is specific to the 2016 event that it could be used for any year, guess that’s the idea from a sales point of view– although the ‘rest day’ pages might not be in quite the right place. We did enjoy the illustrations by Neil Stevens.

This book will probably appeal to a limited audience, but in the right hands it could add a new dimension for anyone following the race obsessively.

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The catch is of course that none of these stages has been completed yet, because as a log (or journal) the purpose of the book is to help you to record the events of the day in an orderly manner as the race unfolds. If you are diligent you should end up with a nicely presented summary of the race in your own fair hand: it won’t tell you anything that a few minutes on the internet could not do equally well, but that is to miss the point of the book.

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BOOK REVIEW:

MAGNUM CYCLING

T

Cycling World

he world's best photographers capture the world's most thrilling sport.

Magnum Cycling celebrates the great photographers who have captured the personalities, emotions and iconic moments from the thrilling sport of cycling. It is edited by road cycling photography expert and writer Guy Andrews, the founder and former editor of cycling magazine Rouleur.

The book brings together an impressive spectrum of colour and black and white images: from the agony of defeat to the ecstasy of victory and from carnival atmospheres to dramatic mountain passes.

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It is organised thematically: The Tours de France of 1939, 1982 and 1985, track racing in the Velodrome, winter training and the revelry of the fans and crowds.

Each chapter also features one ‘story’ of an iconic moment, event or scene.

The featured photographers are craftsmen of the image. All

from the pioneering Magnum photo agency founded in 1947; a cooperative described by founder member Cartier-Bresson as “a community of thought, a shared human quality, a curiosity about what is going on and a desire to transcribe it visually.”

Magnum photographers, some of the world’s finest, have covered the sport at some point in their careers.

The collection is a testament to the fact that cycling provides the perfect subject for reportage, social documentary and street photography, happening, as it does, in real time and out on the streets making it a true “sport of the people”.

It includes the work of Robert Capa who made his name during the Spanish Civil War and his photos of the Tour remind us that there is no great difference between war and cycling. The imagery shows bodies racked by pain and weather; their machines covered in mud and blood. It is a moving and addictive collection.

by Harry Gruyaert 1982. The tour on the hairpin bend roads of the Alps

by Robert Capa - International Center of Photography 1939. Cyclists stop for the day to rest, wash and clean up

Author: Guy Andrews Published: Thames and Hudson, 25th April 2016 Edition: ÂŁ32.00 Hardback. 256 pages, 200 photographs ISBN: 9780500544570 Review by: David Robert

Summer 2016

by Harry Gruyaert 1982. Cyclists stopped by farmers due to Common Market price fixing

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MAD FOR

BALD MOUNTAIN:

Ventoux

by Iain Marshall

I

'm one of those cyclists fortunate enough to have a photo of myself with a large metal pole 'growing' directly out of the top of my head. I say this is lucky because the signpost in question is the summit marker for Mont Ventoux in Provence. It means I have had the privilege of climbing this - I hesitate to use the phrase - 'iconic' mountain, but I will.

The arguably over-used adjective actually fits the bill in this case. The Giant of Provence is one of those legendary Tour de France locations worthy of mention in the same trembling breath as, 'Alpe d'Huez, the Tourmalet, the Galibier, the Aubisque and the Izoard' - to name just some of the most celebrated and feared.

It's a brute to climb, "a God of evil" according to cycling fan and French philosopher, Roland Barthes. And it’s making its sixteenth 1912 metre appearance in the 2016 Grand Boucle.

Cycling World

Armstrong and Pantani famously battled it out on the 'bald mountain' in 2000. Sir Bradley Wiggins revelled in his new-found climbing form on the Ventoux's bleached slopes in 2009 - with the yet-to-be disgraced Texan again in attendance. Another British great, Tom Simpson, met with a tragic end on the road to the summit. In 1967 he finally tumbled off his bike while fighting to stay in contention in that year's Tour. Simpson died on the hot dusty mountainside of extreme exhaustion and dehydration. He also had amphetamines and alcohol in his system.

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Anyone who's been to Ventoux, or has merely taken a passing interest in it, will know about the Tom Simpson memorial, perched by the roadside with the summit tantalisingly close. Many stop to walk up the steps to the granite stone and leave all sorts of cycling momentos in tribute to the fallen rider. These range from cycling caps to water bottles, to photographs and inner tubes.

My brush with Mont Ventoux, whose treeless, upper reaches, look perpetually covered in snow by virtue of the stark white rocks scattered around, was quite literally inspired by a moment of madness. I had long held the ambition to pedal up the mountain via all three possible routes in a single day. Achieving this feat grants riders entry into the select Club des Cinglés du Mont-Ventoux (Club of

the Madmen/women of Ventoux).

The day we arrived in Provence, the dreaded mistral wind was threatening to uproot trees, vines and even the very farm buildings surrounding our rented gite on the edge of Mazan. The severe weather did not bode well for my attempt to join the Ventoux's very own 'crazy gang' the next day.

But rescheduling was not an option because I'd pre-booked a rental bike for the specific day of my ride. Many people think the 'vent' in Ventoux is a reference to the wind.

However, some also believe the name is actually an ancient term which means snowy peak. And according to a Rapha cc blog the Gauls named it Vintur after a god thought to reside on the summit. Whatever the true definition the ferocious wind which can disdainfully toss a rider off his or her bike and hurl them down the slope is very real. The weather on the mountain can swing from searing heat to freezing cold in just a few moments. It is not for the faint hearted.

To prove you have completed the punishing Cinglés task you must get a brevet card stamped at each of the three starting points, Bédoin, Sault and Malaucène - and at the summit. Most shops in the three towns have stamps with which they will oblige. Even the pizza joint I had lunch in in Bédoin after my first ascent of the day was able to mark my card.

If you’re going to conquer the mythical beast three times, an early start is essential. And, as dragon-slaying is such hungry work, I fortified myself, lingeringly, with a croissant-heavy breakfast in Malaucène. That was mistake number one.

When I could put off the inevitable no longer I wheeled my rented Cervello S2 out of Ventoux Bikes and started heading up the daunting D974. Immediately conscious of how much lighter the S2 was compared to my aluminiumframed bicycles at home, I made decent progress at first - trying to stay in the big ring for as long as possible.

This didn't last. But once in the small ring, I vowed to avoid hitting the 'granny gear' until absolutely necessary.

This resolve too petered out after about two hundred metres.

With some surprise I found myself on top of Ventoux for the first time - relatively unscathed. I got my brevet card stamped in the gift shop after buying an over-priced Mont Ventoux souvenir pen. I persuaded a perspiring, thickset Dutch cyclist who'd just ridden up from Sault to take my picture in front of the 1912 metres sign.

He got it spot on with the pole shooting upwards out of the middle of my cranium." Are you doing more?"

I asked him. "No way," he grunted with a wan smile.

"I died three times on the way up." With the number three also on my mind, I descended to Bédoin swiftly, noting the steep sections I'd have to tackle after lunch on my way back up.

My wife, Jackie, was poised with camera in hand at ‘Kilometre Zero’ on the outskirts of the small town.

Phil's Pizza provided sustenance in abundance and again I lingered over my repast. This was mistake number two.

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The regular, road-side markers were useful not least because they gave the gradient you were fighting at that particular point. I soon realised that 7% wasn't so bad but anything above that and my thighs started overheating.

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After obtaining that second imprint on my Cinglés card I set off on my return ascent through the forest from Bédoin. I at once recalibrated my long-held opinion that the Malaucène climb was the harshest.

Bédoin was steep and unrelentingly so and therefore definitely the harder climb after all.

The Bédoin ascent is the public face of Ventoux. Famous for the dramatic backdrop it has so often given the Tour de France. And famous too, for the tragic death of Tom Simpson. There's no doubt it looks impressive, especially the last six kilometres after Chalet Reynard, where you're out of the trees, pedalling for the most part, in a straight line with the summit and its weather station prodding upwards like a cold-war-era Soviet rocket on the launch pad, always visible ahead of you. The last section of the Malaucène route however, with it's breathtaking hairpins, is equally stunning to look at.

My coffee stop at Chalet Reynard was surreal. It is a tiny ski station in the winter and with the temperature cooling outside it was easy to believe I was in skiing mode inside the café with its distinctly alpine feel. The punters however were decked out in Lycra shorts and cleated shoes rather than ski boots.

The road from Chalet Reynard to the top is the part of the ride which gives Ventoux its much-vaunted 'iconic' status - the unforgiving, treeless, section of the mountain where the mistral takes no prisoners. People started stripping the mountain of timber in the 12th century, rendering it permanently ‘bald’on top.

Cycling World

On the long haul up from Bédoin through the forest, some wag had painted a massive snail on the road on a particularly steep bend. Another wit had daubed the word 'fixie', writ large, across the carriageway. I take my hat off to anyone with the guts and muscle power to tackle Ventoux on a single speed bike - just like the early Tour de France competitors used to ride. But it's not something I'll be trying in a hurry.

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The weather was closing in with cloud covering the road ahead and sweeping off down the slopes to my left. At times visibility was reduced to just a few metres.

I became aware of bells clanging off the road and saw a couple of shepherds up on the hill. They were directing a number of sheep dogs to push their flocks along.

One group of these not so dumb animals congregated around a drinking fountain at the roadside and noisily slurped the eau potable on offer.

I made a stop at the Simpson memorial. The words on the plaques there, from his widow and daughters,

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Summer 2016

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and the simple tokens left by fellow cyclists speak eloquently. It's a bleak, tragic and truly evocative spot. The final turn up to the weather station kicks up cruelly but briefly and once you've put a spurt on to get round it, you're at the top.

I'd felt really good on the section of the climb after Chalet Reynard.

It was not as steep as the forested part of the ride and I was spared the ravages of Ventoux's worst weather. But I calculated that to get back down to Sault and up again for ascent number three would push me into late evening.

With no desire to make my final descent in the dark, I decided to abandon plans to do all three routes.

I flew down to Malaucène, tugging on the brake levers most of the time - worrying that the brake blocks would work loose or spontaneously burst into flames - it felt I was going so fast! That's not to say I wasn't overtaken by several riders who’d metaphorically cut their cables.

Cyclists talk in doom-laden terms about their fear of tackling the steep climbs in the Alps and Pyrenees. What really fills me with dread is the prospect of descending these mountains, with feet like blocks of ice and unresponsive fingers trying to get a meaningful grip on the brake levers. Give me an uphill slog any time.

Cycling World

The bike computer informed me that I'd hit a top speed of 66.5 kilometres per hour on the descent. That may be crawling along by Tour standards but it’s quite fast enough for me.

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I hadn't done all three routes as planned but two out of three ain’t bad. The full monty really requires an earlier start than 10am (and definitely a shorter lunch break without the - ahem - accompanying glasses of beer). But we vowed to return for that piece of unfinished business on the bald mountain. We’d be mad not too.

SHARE YOUR CREATIONS WITH US!

/velodromepub @velodromepub velodromepub

ARTWORK TAKEN FROM

RICHARD MITCHELSON’S GRAND TOUR: A CYCLIST’S CHAIN-DRIVEN INTERACTIVE ARTISTIC ADVENTURE

Available from all good book shops www.velodromepublishing.com

Summer 2016

Tour de France?

Tour de You

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Normandy: A Love Afffair

by Scot Christian

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f you haven’t noticed or surmised yet, the Grand Depart for Tour de France starts in Normandy, noticeably utilising the magical setting of Mont St Michel. Why not?

As soon as you cross the channel you are overwhelmed with the euphoria generated by the iconic brand. For three weeks the sporting World’s eyes salivate over the prospect of men in Lycra demonstrating a desire and spirit unmatched in any other arena on the planet. The whole experience is one to savour, with a party atmosphere following every pedal stroke, every fiery disagreement (of which there are plenty) and every cinematic flyby provided creatively by the exemplary television coverage. By chance I had been invited to experience the northern section of the Velo Francette and Normandy.

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There is so much more to cycling in France, instead of encountering the suffocating shroud of mass tourism, the independent spirted traveller can experience a period of isolation and sublime discovery. Satisfied that the monotony of traffic jams, people and packed accommodation is a distant memory, thus allowing the adventurous to concentrate and immerse in the sights, sounds and smells of a landscape, the culture and human interaction. There is an extensive network of cycle trails which can transport you and your bike anywhere in France, and throughout the continent.

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The AF3V is a national organisation of French citizens who promote the development of greenways and long distance cycle routes in France. Voie Verte is French for Greenways and they offer a wonderful signposted delve into rural France. Motor vehicles are prohibited and the majority of the routes follow the contours of river or canal towpaths and disused railways. Currently there are over 3,000 kilometres of Voies Vertes across France with varying distances from 10km to 50km, offering something for both the committed or less frequent cyclist. The simple ethos is to provide clean, green tourism whilst encouraging active leisure

and exploration. If you’re in a hurry, then forget it. The environs take over, they possess your body and mind, immersion is inevitable. The unhurried, relaxed approach is infectious. One of the main advantages of the routes are their flexibility, you can plan your day, commit to an agreed distance with breaks and stop whenever to discover places of interest. There is excellent access to road or rail networks and plenty of places to hire bikes, (if you don’t want to bring your own along), which make them a perfect choice for any type of break.

The Velo Francette trails its way south from the English Channel at Ouistreham and finally empties into the Atlantic near La Rochelle. My journey would take me south from the port, through Caen and finally into the Suisse Normande. I have become accustomed to travelling, it’s part of the job, and I find the ferry a relaxing mode of transport. My arrival in Ouistreham was greeted with sunshine and the welcoming smile from Armelle from the Calvados Tourist Board. A bike had been arranged, the bright red Specialised was equipped for more than my leisurely adventure, a mass of panniers bursting with tools and bike bits.

Day one – Ouistreham to Caen www.cycling.lavelofrancette.com/ etapes/voie-verte-ouistreham-caen Sunny cycling, it’s got to be best two words in any language. I left Ouistreham engulfed by a positive sunny disposition; the Velo Francette hugs (literally) the mesmeric Canal de Caen a la mer. The riding is easy, the route flat and clearly defined.

Six kilometres in, you are exposed to history in the guise of the Pegasus Bridge. It holds a pivotal moment in the D Day landings; its strategic location was recognised as a prime objective by the Allies. The subsequent acquisition of the bridge suffocated the ability of the Germans to effectively respond to any counter attack in the hours, days and weeks following the offensive on the Normandy coast. www.memorial-pegasus.org/mmp/ pont benouville

Leaving the history behind, the trail continued to contour the water until I encountered the stifling urban surrounds of Caen and the marina in the central of the city. Ok I have to admit I got spectacularly lost, throw in a chain malfunction and I was frustrated, caked in oil and warm.

Caen is a lovely jumble of stunning architecture and wide boulevards, some dating back to William the Conqueror’s reign, who is buried there. There are plenty of designated cycle lanes and greenery, but it’s definitely a vibrant metropolis being the second largest city in Normandy after Rouen, and the 21st largest in France. Much of the heavy fighting that took place in and around Caen during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, destroying a large portion of the city. In remembrance a memorial of peace has been. My overnight stop was at the modern Hotel de France (www.hoteldefrance-caen.com/ Anglais/Bienvenue), dinner was a sumptuous display of the best of French cuisine, however my early start enabled me to efficiently dribble sleepily into my main course.

Day Two – Caen to Pont d’Ouilly www.cycling.lavelofrancette.com/ etapes/vallee-de-l-orne-a-velocaen-thury-harcourt and www. cycling.lavelofrancette.com/ etapes/thury-harcourt-conde-surnoireau The route between Caen and Thury Harcourt is flat joy, dominated by isolation and an abundance of greenery.

The route follows an obvious disused railway line, a remnant of past glory discarded in a bewildering rusty fashion, train enthusiasts will be salivating at the prospect of the history on tracks. It’s impossible to get lost as it also hugs the contours of the River Orne as it meanders south. The weather offered a surprising warm hug, to be fair it was possibly too hot to be pedalling but one shouldn’t complain (so typically

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English). The Voie Verte dissects a collection of small hamlets and most memorably the Foret de Grimbosq with its intoxicating tree cover, the shade was most welcome. In the town of Thury-Harcourt there was a colourful market taking place; it was a hub of activity. The smell of fruit and vegetables lingered refreshingly in the air. The sound of animated conversation and chirping from the fluffy poultry echoed from every corner of the main square. It was still early but the locals appeared to be out en-masse. I stopped for an alfresco coffee as the clouds became ominously darker. It was obvious that the town had a significant industrial past, with tanneries and enamelling factories flourishing, however the village suffered terribly at the hands of the German forces in 1944, unfortunately most of the town had to be rebuilt. I begrudgingly left the flat Voie Verte behind in Thury Harcourt and reverted to the bucolic country highways. The terrain became noticeably challenging, I had hit the La Suisse Normande. Over time the Orne River has carved dramatic gorges into the rock formations which are known as La Suisse Normande or Norman Switzerland. At its highest it reaches over 1,000 feet, making it the most elevated points in Normandy.

The climbing was achievable but with a hefty rucksack it did require endeavour, in recompense, the views of the surrounding untouched countryside are magical and thought provoking. Complete isolation is its major asset, the peacefulness and quiet roads, are expected but always surprising. No matter what time of day or day of the week, rural France always appears deserted, like a ghost town from a 1940s movie.

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After some lengthy inclines and welcoming descents I arrived in the beautiful Clecy. I stopped and locked directly outside the church, which was being enthusiastically attacked by a mass of flourishing greenery. It was lunch time and business appeared brisk in the collection of bars and restaurants. The village is set into the side of a slope and is dominated by a dramatic outcrop known as the Pain de Sucre (Sugarloaf). I had a quick caffeine kick in a nearby café and pedalled off following the signs for Conde-sur-Noireau.

My overnight stop was in Pont d’Ouilly, the town holds a beguiling presence, it’s rural France on speed.

The town is bossed by its bridge and the ferocious interaction with Orne River. The cascading waters permeate through everything and everyone, it’s

unmitigated and infectious. My hotel was a delight, clean and comfortable, dinner was another mouth-watering exposure to local cuisine.

Day Three – Pont d’Ouilly to Ste Opportune www.cycling. lavelofrancette.com/etapes/Condesur-Noireau-flers Over my breakfast, I caught a glimpse of the local Ouest France newspaper, the front cover was influenced by the UK’s EU referendum. I chuckled, I couldn’t even escape the tiresome debate in rural France. The weather was rather gloomy as I departed. I followed the green Veloroute V43 signed Conde-sur-Noireau/Flers which took me over the still excited water.

I encountered Conde-sur-Noireau mid-morning, the locals frenetically catching up, the bars and cafes were already bustling. I found myself sat outside the Hotel-de-Ville in the grounds of a small park with the River Noireau carrying out its daily routine.

It was a short ride to my next stop, an appointment had been made for me to visit La Monnerie Distillerie in the pretty village of Cerisy-Belle-Etoile.

Its location is dramatically set at the foot of La Mont de Cerisy. The Maison Legay is a collection of traditional buildings in the heart of Ornais Bocage and has been the home to the family of distillers since the early 1920s. They specialise in cider, apple liquor and the much prized Calvados.

The actual distillery is a short distance from the main house; however, the owner suddenly appeared in a vintage car emblazoned with all manner of logos and transported me at speed to the business end several kilometres away. The tour in French was informative and interesting, my concentration at times distracted by the pungent aromas of the fermenting liquors. www.distillerie-monnerie.com I had to negotiate the urban confines of Flers, the ensuing short pedal ride was mostly on the flat or downhill and in no time I was sat at the crossroads of the town. The heat was now stifling, the roadways a concentration of chugging industrial vehicles. To be honest I couldn’t wait to leave Flers, its controlled chaos was simply frustrating.

Just south of Flers I pedalled into La-Selle-la-Forge, from this point I headed east and away from the section that links to Domfront towards a strategic point in my journey, La Carneille. I was heading towards my overnight stop just on the

outskirts of the small village of Ste Opportune. Unfortunately, it falls six kilometres from the Velo Francette which denies its inclusion in the Accuiel Velo. After several impromptu stops to ask directions. What a surprise I got lost, though I arrived in a sublime sanctuary.

La Bergerie is located in the southern part of the Suisse Normande, a few kilometres from the sleepy village of Ste Opportune. The property consists of a collection of former agricultural buildings which have been magically transformed and restored using ancient methods and materials (mud, lime and hemp). Sylvie and Frederic offer a heavenly oasis with a selection of accommodation options available, three gites and several B&B alternatives, all set amongst a euphoria of flora where blossoms dominate and the fragrance hangs blissfully in the air. That evening I was exposed to some wonderful Normandy homemade fare at the hands of Sylvie. The conversation was again dominated by the joys of Brexit, it was obviously becoming more of an issue for the French, than it was for me. I retired relatively early, and was asleep before I had chance to peruse my La Velo Francette guide. www.gites-de-france-orne.com/ chambre-d-hote-leblond-sylvie--frederic-a-ste-opportunedans-BOCAGE---SUISSENORMANDE-G1232.html

Day Four – Ste Opportune to Pont d’Ouilly www.cycling.lavelofrancette. com/etapes/pont-douilly-la-rochedoetre-flers I awoke to the soothing sound of the local birdlife. A simple breakfast fuelled me for my advance back to the enchantment of Pont d’Ouilly and the prospect of La Roche d’Oeutre, which is recognised as one of the most mesmeric panoramic viewpoints in western France. The site is protected and is located in a collection of the oldest mountain ranges in Europe, the Armorican Massif. At 118 metres high it delivers unspoilt views over the wooded landscapes of the Rouvre River gorge.

I said farewell to Sylvie with regret and pedalled back the six kilometres towards La Carneille. It was definitely going to be another hot day with minimal cloud cover and bright vibrant blue skies. As soon as I had rediscovered La Velo Francette, I deviated from it. The riding was a mix of colourful climbing with the occasional exhilarating descent. After

I met Carole from l’Orne Tourisme, she was desperate to show me some more attractions of the local area, and rightly so. The Department offers so many great things, the culture, people and memories of the fierce fighting especially in the 1940s, none more poignant than at a small museum in the Orne fields. The village of Berjou and the surrounding countryside are synonymous with an important strategic battle of WWII. I was lucky enough to visit the small but highly evocative Museum of the Liberation (www.musee-berjou.fr). It recounts the endeavours of the 15th, 16th and 17th of August 1944, when the Allies under constant onslaught from the Germans managed to navigate their Sherman tanks across the Noireau river and through the steep, wooded hills to capture the elevated Berjou ridge which ultimately allowed the 43rd Infantry Wessex division and the 8th Brigade Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry to suffocate the Falaise Gap. The objects provide a stark and emotional image of the hardships of war. The museum was the brainchild of Romain Pon, the local man who discovered several objects in the nearby fields. With his interest piqued and after interactions with the local elders who recounted their personal experiences, the story is now immortalised in this wonderful collection. It was hard to imagine this peaceful countryside overrun with military and their vehicles. It was a rather surreal experience and makes you realise how lucky we are today, thanks mainly due to the heroics of a small band of fighters on the near continent. Lunch was a recognisable home from home treat at L’Auberge Auvraysienne in the peaceful village of La Foret Auvray.

The typical French ambience is wonderfully juxtaposed with a menu touched with a slice of England.

Unsurprisingly, the restaurant is owned by an English couple who now are fully immersed in their new culture but still fondly reminisce about their previous life through their food. www.auberge-auvray.com

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negotiating several small hamlets I found myself on the assault to La Roche d’Oeutre, ok assault might be a bit strong.

The climb was moderate but the heat was impacting on my progress, though after much perspiration I arrived. The view simply opened up magically before me.

I rejoined La Velo Francette once again in the commune of Pont d’Ouilly, my riding was nearly over. I breezed wilfully over the bridge and the welcoming sight of the local supermarket, a sugary concoction was much overdue and devoured with zeal, sat in the shade on the banks of the River.

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Normandy:

Veloscenic Cycle Route

by Gill Corble

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returned from the bar toilet, curiously ashen-faced, and having apparently taken the time to wash his hair.

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“It’s very queer,” he said. “When you flush the toilet, a whole load of water pours out of a point somewhere in the ceiling. I advise you to jump back immediately you’ve pulled the chain.”

I fumbled my way through the semi-gloom of the loo, brushing aside unpleasantly sticky cobwebs and skeins of damp wallpaper and plaster, and presently followed my beloved’s advice. This allowed me to observe the true train of events: pulling the chain unleashed an unholy howling and clattering of pipes; the contents of the toilet pan were violently sucked out - only to reappear, oh horrors, a second later from the drain of the adjacent wash-basin, shooting with great force vertically to the ceiling whence they bounced back to the floor at my feet via the bare electric wires upon which hung the unadorned light bulb. As my mind boggled at the microbiological broadcast and potential for electrical disaster this procedure facilitated, the system, with no prompting from me, crashed into action once more, and the whole explosive spectacle was repeated. I emerged, equally pale, but at least my hair was dry.

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Back in the bar, all was calm. The nice, fat landlady was still about her business, which consisted of just sitting. No mention of the plumbing was made; no shrug or wry, Gallic smile. We began to make our departure, but the general state of stupor was now broken in a most theatrical way. A gentleman of the countryside and two dogs appeared, stage right. Straw in his wild grey hair and clad in a filthy, frayed and shapeless jumper and equally unsavoury trousers held up with string, he paused for dramatic effect in the doorway before announcing with great portent: “one of your chickens has just crossed the road”.

This sent landlady into apathetic action and she lumbered off to deal with the emergency.

The new arrival sat down and was presently, wordlessly, served with a tea-cup, an opened bottle of wine and a plate of dog biscuits, which he and the dogs shared. The hot afternoon torpor re-descended on the scene, the silence only broken by the crunching of biscuits, and the buzz of the many flies against the window pane.

Bienvenu to Normandy at its most rural. We were following the so-called “Route Veloscenic”, or National Route V40, from Mont St Michel to Paris, and experiencing a whole new culture.

Mont St Michel

Chateau Thiron-Gardais

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River Selune at Pontaubault

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This route is the latest French cycle route to be defined, and runs for 450kms. It makes much use of disused railway lines, now called voies vertes, greenways, which have both advantages and disadvantages.

To travel the route eastbound (Paris-bound), we took a train to Portsmouth and the overnight ferry to St Malo (Brittany Ferries, www.brittany-ferries.co.uk ). We found the company staff to be very cycle-friendly and helpful, and there was a dedicated room on the car deck for bikes.

Food on board was not rip-off expensive and we were glad we had not bothered to be penny-pinching and take our own. The cabin was comfortable and we slept well. In the morning, there was an exciting entry into the St Malo harbour, the captain threading his behemoth between countless rocky islets and then centimetre by centimetre into his berth.

Naturally, we got instantly lost leaving the harbour area, despite having printed off a map, but eventually, by luck and judgement, hit the coast road east to Mont St Michel.

(More homework needed for that bit).

We were soon cruising along the shoreline where from time to time we were able to take advantage of an excellent cycle path on the beach itself. To celebrate our arrival on Norman soil, we stopped in a bar in St Benoit for apple cake and a naughty Calvados, which at 10am brought us murmurs of admiration from the local drinkers.

We were unaware of any official cycle route between St Malo and Mont St Michel, but mid-morning happed upon a “provisional” route called “le Tour de la Manche” which was signed in a haphazard way, but kept us off all main roads. (Again, this bears more investigation).

Hitting the River Couesnon, we turned north to the dam from where we had a stunning view of the Mont. It was so atmospheric sitting there, eating our picnic, that we decided not to go to the Mont itself, which was clearly overrun with tourists, but just to enjoy the vista from a distance.

Now on to the Veloscenic itself; we appreciated the gentle gradients of the voies vertes, but soon realised that you are very cut off on these old railway lines. Cut off, that is, from bars and cafes, and from B&Bs, which abound on the country roads themselves.

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Furthermore, after one night of rain, the rather sandy gravel surface turns into a bit of a wet quicksand consistency, making forward progress not unlike trying to pedal along a beach at low tide, and we often found ourselves wishing for tarmac and villages. Still, these lines do go through the loveliest of lush green Normandy meadows, populated only, it seemed, by cows.

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The villages that we did cycle through were usually picturesquely crumbling and often apparently lacking in any inhabitants apart from the odd chicken. Curiously, we noted that whatever else was missing in the way of commerce, there was always a hair and beauty salon or two. Not actually open.

“Well, I’ve found you a farmhouse B&B; it’s just 8km out of town and on your route, and is very well-priced. Only problem is, she can’t do you a proper evening meal, but could rustle up, say, an omelette. Is that a problem?”

The ultra-helpful young woman in the tourist office (the town’s claim to fame: Proust once spent a summer holiday here, aged eight years….) looked enquiringly up from the telephone. Omelette didn’t sound like any sort of problem

to us after a long, hot, hungry day in the saddle; she could have said raw horsemeat and I think we’d have agreed.

We approved the booking and presently found ourselves wheeling our bikes into the remote farmyard to meet R and V, very modern farmers, he with an MSc in rapeseed genetics and not a blade of straw about his person.

At about 8pm we were called to eat and found ourselves sharing the family table. Omelette? What omelette?! Five hours, two bottles of wine and four (or was it five - we lost count) courses of exquisitely home-cooked, home-grown food later (none of which appeared on the bill), we four felt well satisfied that we had solved most major world problems: famine, obesity, climate change - all the usual stuff that finds one still up and shouting at 1am.

In the morning, we bade farewell to these lovely people, with panniers laden with plums and tomatoes from the farm, and continued our voyage across the ever-changing Normandy countryside. After a picnic lunch we decided to pause for a rest and refreshment in a village bar. The ugly ginger cat sitting on the bar counter top lifted his face from his bottom which he had been licking furiously, gave me a nasty look, ambled along the bar and proceeded to apply the same lingual skills to the nozzle of the lager pump. This prompted the landlord to shuffle over, fill a teacup with said lager and place it before the cat for it to lap.

I pondered on the Public Health implications of what I was seeing but it got too complicated and all I could think was: thank God I’m having a coffee.

Normandy produce is dominated by apples and dairy.

The former ensures plenty of apple tart and cake in any patisseries you are lucky enough to come across. It also ensures a good supply of refreshing ciders, not too strong, in most bars. And after your evening meal, what better than a shot of Calvados, apple spirit that does actually retain a taste of apples. For softies (moi), try Pommeau, Calvados watered down with apple juice.

Dairy-wise, we had some lovely cheeses, none better than a grainy, sweet cream cheese from Neufchatel. This is one of the oldest cheeses of France, dating from the 11th century and it comes with an amusing story. In those days, most of France belonged to the English crown and there were many English squaddies stationed in French towns. Naturally, with nothing much else to do, romantic associations would spring up between these soldiers and the local girls and in Neufchatel, the latter took to making the local cheese for their boyfriends formed in the shape of a heart. An early version of “I <heart> you”! The Church got to hear of this and published an announcement that the cheese depicted not a heart, but the wings of an Angel of the Lord and no-one was to believe otherwise. This had no effect on the practice; the Anglo-French hanky-panky continued, as did the shape of the cheese, to this very day.

You can buy at the cheese shop on the suburban section of Victoria Station!

We had pre-booked nothing and relied on luck to find us a bed every night, and our luck always held. There is a website for the route - www.veloscenic.com - which gives some information on hotels and B&Bs which I had copied out and this was quite helpful. In fact, we found one of the best ways to find somewhere to sleep was to march into a bar and loudly ask the bar-tender for information on affordable accommodation. Such was the level of nosy, noisy and competitive helpfulness we encountered, the assorted drinkers would immediately start shouting and arguing until a consensus was reached, and we would be sent on our way with strict directions and good wishes.

Signage of the route was pretty good up to the town of Epernon, but there it abruptly ceased, never to be seen again. From there east to Rambouillet we managed to orienteer ourselves successfully, using an off-line map app of French national cycle routes. Beyond Rambouillet, there was a wonderful off-road forest trail, but just as we were congratulating ourselves on finding this, it came to a sudden impasse. Furthermore, there was no signage for the Versailles loop, which we had intended to take. From there on, things deteriorated: we had to guess where to divert and anyway, very soon found ourselves floundering around in urban suburbs with heavy traffic. We could tell that this was the landscape all the way through to central Paris, so we threw in the towel and at the first opportunity, Bures-sur-Yvette, caught an RER train to the Gare du Nord. So unappealing was this last stretch into Paris, especially after the almost mediaeval isolation and lack of civilisation of the Normandy countryside, that we do recommend that Bures, or somewhere in that vicinity, be your start/finish. There are no restrictions, or fares to be paid, for bicycles on the RER lines, at least, not in the rush hour. From Bures to Paris is 30kms.

From the Gare du Nord it was too late to get all the way to Calais by train so we stopped in Amiens, and were very happy we had done so. There are plenty of budget hotels in the streets opposite the station, and all along the nearby River Somme are buzzy restaurants and bars where we treated ourselves to oysters and mussels. The cathedral is awesome of course. The next day we reached Calais by train where we stuffed all available spaces in our panniers with cheese and with Calvados and Pommeau. There are currently two ferry companies operating to Dover and they have completely different fare structures, so do ask the price at both desks. We were quoted €60.00 each by one, and €38.00 each by the other, for sailings at the same time.

It is well worth reading up on the route on the website which is, however, rather cluttered and annoying. I found a guide book in Stamford’s, the gorgeous map shop in Long Acre near Covent Garden, but the French prose was rather too flowery and it only described the route westbound. Overall, we got by with signage on the ground and an off-line Apple app called “Cycle Routes” which provides a bundle of linear mapping of all national cycle routes in the four countries of Germany, France, Holland and UK. In conclusion, a nice little route to have a go at, and easy to get to and from the UK. No major pre-planning necessary. Pretty scenery and ancient villages lost in time. Easy cycling with few hills. Some wonderfully eccentric and always friendly and helpful folk and even more eccentric hotels. The glorious vision of Chartres Cathedral is hard to beat. As is the time-warp town of Bagnoles-sur-l’Orne, a 19th century spa in the middle of a lovely forest, with its faded “Belle Epoque” architecture still intact. The baths are still in operation and maybe on another occasion one should stop there and give one’s aching muscles a treat in the hot waters. As it was we confined ourselves to the recuperative properties of cake in one of the many tea rooms.

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le-Rotro NogentSt Jean in Chateau Caption

We plan to repeat the route, again from St Malo, but bypassing Paris by taking the northerly loop through Versailles and then continuing north to pick up the excellent Avenue Verte route on the River Seine in the St Germain area. Clearly a bit more homework will be needed to achieve this. The Avenue Verte then runs north to the English Channel, to Dieppe, where there is a good ferry service to Newhaven in East Sussex. There is a guide book for this route available from Sustrans, www.sustrans.org.uk.

u

Our total mileage from St Malo to Bures-sur-Yvette was 500kms which took us just over a week.

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AMATEURS TACKLE THE

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can hear them coming before they arrive over the Col de la Croix de Fer - a group of panting, swearing, occasionally laughing, always-bantering cyclists. About to pull into their second roadside feed stop of the day, they’re looking forward to climbing off the bikes for a stretch, some much-needed calories and the inevitable pee.

Today, they’ve got lucky. The sun is out but they’re not being fried to a crisp like they were in the lowlands of France.

Up here in the high mountains, it can all be so different.

We’ve had riders near hypothermia in the Alps in previous years, and others suffering heat exhaustion in the Pyrenees.

Cycling here isn’t for the faint-hearted, but the rewards are immense. Today, there are cows nearby with their bells musically contributing to this scene of mountain beauty. The views stretch into the distance like something out of Lord of the Rings. It’s peaceful, it’s quiet. Today is a very good day to be on a bike – it doesn’t get better than this.

We’re 80km into a 138km day on one of the Alpine stages of the 2015 Tour de France route. They’ve been riding since 8am, but were up at 5.30am for breakfast, then a coach transfer from the end of the previous stage to the start of this one. We’re now around two and a half weeks into this epic Tour de France route as part of the Tour de Force cycling event and the days are merging into each other as the cyclists eat, ride, rest, repeat. 40 cyclists (called ‘Lifers’) are taking on all 21 stages of the Tour de France route, one week ahead of the pros and they’re now just two days short of Paris. Others have joined us ‘just’ for the Alpine stages, while others are riding the final ten stages of the tour (‘half Lifers’). All in all, we have around 170 riders with us on tour – some taking on a ‘Tour Taster’ in the Pyrenees, others tackling the earliest, flatter stages from Utrecht down into Northern France where you could fry an egg on the tarmac it was so hot. Every stage has presented its own challenges, with the weather being just one of them.

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Each rider has worked hard to be on this tour, whether they’re cycling two, or 21 stages. They’ve juggled work and family commitments through a long cold winter of training. They’ve forced themselves onto turbo trainers when the British weather has defeated them. They’ve got up early to squeeze in training rides before work and they’ve negotiated full days and weekends away on the bike in order to clock up the mileage necessary to be able to ride multiple stages of the Tour de France route and still have enough energy left to look up and enjoy the view.

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“It was worth everything: every single training session, every filthy day on the bike through the winter. Everything has been worth it” - Lifer Chris Bird Now fast forward to late March 2016 and I’m on a Spring training ride with the new recruits for the Tour de Force 2016. With just three months to go, the riders are eager to see how their fitness compares to their fellow riders’. They’re nervously checking out each other’s bikes, discussing kit and debating the value of body weight loss over carbon for those big mountain climbs in the Pyrenees and Alps. It’s my

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first chance to ride with any of them and a chance to hear some of their stories and how they came to sign up to this challenge.

Paul is a heavily tattooed, lean and keen roadie. He looks tough, but he’s a sweetheart really. Nevertheless, he should have ‘commitment’ tattooed somewhere because this guy is seriously focused on the job in hand. He’s been training hard all winter, come rain or shine and will be riding all 21 stages.

He’s clearly well-prepared, but he still has a healthy dose of nervous anticipation. He’s still not sure he’ll make it to Paris injury-free. Just like the pros – it’s never a done deal.

“The opportunity to push my mind and body against cycling's ultimate challenge is too good to miss, and to have this adventure with like-minded people will make it even more rewarding. I feel mainly excited, but also apprehensive because I know for sure I’ll be heading towards emotional extremes from euphoria to complete emptiness … Bring It On!" By contrast, Denzil has none of the road-biking experience of Paul, but he’s humble and keen to learn as much as he can before heading to the Pyrenees for five of the toughest days of cycling on the tour this year. I predict emotions will be running high on the top of the Tourmalet, let alone the peak of Mont Ventoux, where he finishes. Denzil will be tested to the limits of his abilities and fitness, but I don’t doubt for one second that he’s got the grit to complete it.

Like Paul, he’s absolutely committed to this challenge.

“I have always loved the Tour De France but didn’t ride a bike. I needed a massive challenge in my life and up popped ‘Tour De Force’. It is true, I have my doubters, but I have my will power and I have my sponsors - failure is not an option” Annabel is a taking on the first half of the tour and although she’s ridden lots of long distance cycling holidays, the Tour de Force is probably going to be her biggest challenge yet. Riding from the Grand Depart at Mont St Michel to Andorra, she’ll be clocking up 1756km over just nine days of cycling. Based in Scotland, training through the winter has been really tough. Hours spent in spinning sessions and a big winter sun training camp have helped her get in shape but she’ll be working hard right up until her departure on tour. She’s a cheerful, fun person and what she lacks in endurance she’ll make up for in positive mental attitude.

“I love a challenge and I love riding my bike. For me it’s partly about testing myself physically, but it’s also about enjoying the freedom of cycling in beautiful scenery with some fun, like-minded people.”

Paul, Denzil and Annabel are just three of 170 or so riders taking part in the Tour de Force 2016, riding the route of the Tour de France, one week ahead of the pros. If you wish you were joining them, contact info@tourdeforce.org.uk to grab one of the last available places for 2016.

Cycling World

Sales for the 2017 tour open on Wednesday 20th July for the first 100 places.

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The Tour de Force is a fundraiser for the William Wates Memorial Trust. The Trust gives grants to charities that work with the UK’s most disadvantaged youth by engaging with them through sports, music and education. The Trust has raised over £2.5 million through the Tour de Force. Riders commit to a minimum fundraising target dependent on the number of days they are cycling.

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Summer 2016

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L’Etape du Tour Text by Helen Summer

Are You Tough Enough? By Helen Summer is out now, published by John Blake Publishing in paperback and priced £9.99

W

hile most people will be familiar with the Tour de France, less may know of L’Etape du Tour, which, translated into English means ‘the stage of the tour’.

Adopting one of the stages used in each year’s Tour de France, the race was created in 1993 to offer amateur and semi-professional cyclists the chance to experience first-hand a little of what the professionals put themselves through.

Held in July, with the main Tour’s chalk markings and route signs in situ, this is a real chance to follow in Chris Froome’s tyre treads. www.letapedutour.com

May 20162016 Summer

In 2016, it is the 92-mile stage running from Megeve to Morzine in the spectacular French Alps that plays host. Starting at 1050 metres, the 2016 race takes in four major climbs at altitudes ranging from 1487 to 1691 metres, dropping down as low as 500 metres between climbs.

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LE MANS 24 Heures Velo

By Scot Christian

I

Cycling World

was in Le Mans, and for the first time in a long time, apprehension was languishing in my psyche.

I had foolishly agreed to take part in the twowheeled version of the Le Mans 24-hour road race, and was totally oblivious to the expectations; pedalling was obvious but anything else was a mere inconvenience. As usual, my preparation was dismal, I was going in blind. First I had acquired a last minute medical certificate from my family physician (ok, my brother) whilst sat in a sopping tent in Dorset and second I had glanced an email which mentioned camping, conveniently I nabbed one of the children’s sleeping bags as our family camping escapade came to a close.

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Thankfully I was not alone, three other journalists (Fiona, Lyn and Will) had somehow been duped into joining me, all were seasoned cyclists, albeit more touring than lycra obsessed roadies. Over dinner in the Cite Plantagenet we discussed the important matter of tactics, I’m no mathematician but 24 into 4 equates to 6 hours in the saddle for each of us.

A simple, naïve plan was hatched on a napkin, and surprisingly we were quietly confident!

That night, my mind wandered, preoccupied by 24 HOURS OF CYCLING, it seemed a ludicrous proposition, I hoped I wouldn’t regret my inclusion.

The event is extremely well -organised, most competitors utilising the well-equipped campsite.

The area was dominated by colourful team garb, gazebos, team buses, static bikes; our simple tents dwarfed in comparison, we were so out of our depths!

The day of the race was greeted with an unwelcomed heat.

After the mundane process of registering, we settled into pit lane 28 which was to be our temporary concrete home (shed).

The basic amenities mirrored our basic equipment, water on tap and not much else. As the afternoon progressed our space was infiltrated by a mass of testosterone and lycra as a group of uber-prepared, shiny teams shared our floor space.

This was the seventh edition of the event, flicking through the glossy guide, I was astonished to discover that the team who won in our class (team of 4) the previous year averaged 41.78km per hour: what!, why?, it was preposterous? It was something that I wasn't prepared to contemplate, crazy people!

The race is open to all bike users (triathletes, cyclists, ultra-

As the race time approached I was surprised how nervous I felt, I had volunteered for the first leg which involved a running start. The heat was now uncomfortable and after a meandering familiarisation ride, I was stood trackside, the national anthems had finished, I eyed my competitors, all focused, slapping well toned thighs, a kaleidoscope of colours from their team jerseys. As 3pm neared, sweat dripped into the nape of my back, my focus was on Will who had the important task of holding my bike. The noise was deafening, adrenaline pumping, the countdown commenced, the crowds a mere blur. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall over!

Trios..Deux.. Un! The next thing I recall is jumping into the saddle and pushing down hard, it had begun!

Each lap of the Circuit Bugatti is 4,185 metres and is mostly on the flat with only a slight climb as you exit the pit lanes, there are a collection of sweeping bends and lengthy straights. The uphill altitude difference is 600 meters (from 3.5 % to 7%) and the downhill altitude difference: 1000 meters (2%) The camaraderie in our pit lane was memorable, all manner of goodies exchanged: gels, mats, sleeping bags and bizarrely a complete racing kit (go Fiona!).

Unfortunately we had also been invited to watch the French beat the English in their preparations for the rugby

Summer 2016

cyclists, members or not of a Cycling Federation). You can compete as a single competitor, a pair, teams of 4, 6 or 8 riders. The only stipulation is that contestants need to be at least 18 on the day of the event.

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World Cup, when we were all suddenly Irish it totally confused the exuberant Frenchman.

The riding was magical as the sun went down, the moon eclipsed by the lights of the track, it was my time to own the tarmac! Spinning smoothly, leaning into the corners with only a modest tap of the brakes.

I was loving every moment. My first 90 minutes flew by, I felt liberated. I entered the pit lane slightly disappointed, would Lyn notice if I continued?

Unfortunately our plans changed in several dramatic early morning minutes. The forecasted thunderstorm hit with ferocious force, the sky an explosion of activity. What to do? Limit the time in the saddle was the consensus. Fiona appeared in the pit lane sooner than expected (I was in the toilet!), drenched and deflated. It was my turn in the saddle. The sky was still dominated by vibrant red flashes, the rain now horizontal, expertly buffeted by a healthy wind – focus and determination was needed. Up ahead I could barely see the lights of the riders in front, the spray as I approached the first corner was overwhelming, a split second decision had to made, I lent tentatively, the wheels held tight, others were less fortunate.

The worst of the weather had passed as I completed my third lap, the surface still tricky but my confidence brimming. The imposing peloton the only hazard, as they swarmed past like energetic wasps, the buzz of the wheels an uncomfortable signal as they approached. I was thankful for my return, I was drenched, cold and exhausted, was it really only 6am? We stuttered through the next 3 or 4 hours, our schedule was in tatters, we improvised. Shorter rides to compensate for increased tiredness and the unwelcome wind.

Cycling World

Darkness was replaced by grey gloom, the residual water had disappeared, the temperature chilly, the crepes and robust coffee satisfied a plethora of needs. As the race came to a conclusion, the noise from both competitors and spectators was a mix of excitement and relief. The finish was greeted with a foray of energy and exuberance from the tannoy.

We had achieved so much, the experience was a mix of pain, excitement, fatigue and surprising fun, and in the immediate moments after the finish, I claimed, “I won’t be in too much of a hurry to repeat that craziness”.

However, I found an unusual competitive edge as I flicked through our split times, maybe the whole idea of sportives is something that might just grow on me!

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“A successful edition, but tormented,” was the response from Romain Gasnal who is a member of the organising committee and perfectly highlighted the arduous conditions and experience. “I congratulate all the contestants because the elements were unchained, we witnessed a heatwave at the beginning, smoke of the forest fire nearby, the storm around 4am, and the rain just after” If you are interested in competing in this year’s event, it takes place on the 20th and 21st August 2016. www.24heuresvelo.fr

Darren Rhymer wears Optilabs MAX frames with photochromic lenses and prescription optical insert. Plus FREE clamshell case & cleaning cloth.

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DISCOVER THE CYCLE TOURING

WEB PORTAL OF FRANCE

C

ycle tourism is growing rapidly. Its development matches the current touristic practices around well-being, the environment, changing consumption habits and the need to share. France is the second most popular world destination for bike tourism, after Germany, and foreigners represent 25% of cycling tourists. Bicycle tourism is one the most dynamic sectors of the French touristic market.

France has got beautiful, heritage-rich regions with plenty of cities, castles, churches, rivers, forests and vineyards which are easily accessed by bike thanks to numerous cycle ways.

Cyclotourism is a state of mind; a sporting activity where you can take your time, enjoy the landscape in a friendly atmosphere and in a spirit of sharing without competition. It is accessible to everyone whether young or old; in a group or solo.

The French Cycle-touring Federation (FFCT) has developed a unique and interactive website which provides access to 3,000 routes for road cyclists and mountain bikers all over France.

Suitable for all, offering unlimited and free access to bike routes, you will find a huge range of cycle rides whether you want to go for a few hours, one day or a longer tour. The website is available in five languages (French, English, German, Spanish and Dutch) and accessible on all devices (computer, smartphone, tablet).

Veloenfrance has now a dedicated app on iOS and Google Play.

Joseph Mira, vice-president FFCT, tells us: “Democratising bike tourism practice, enhancing our territories and patrimony, raising awareness of the environment: these are the values that we want to impart through the website veloenfrance.fr”

FIND THE ROUTE FOR YOU

Experienced or a beginner cyclist? Veloenfrance.fr allows you to create your itinerary at your own pace and according to your own needs. In order to find a suitable itinerary, a filter allows you to refine searches according to the following criteria: bicycle type (road, touring, MTB), altitude, distance, route type, level of difficulty, trip time. If you’re already in France, you can just choose to geolocate yourself to find the routes around you.

GET INFORMATION

Veloenfrance.fr gathers useful information which will help you to take full advantage of your bike rides. A regional park, an outstanding area of beauty, a museum, an abbey, a castle, a cathedral or a beach along the way. On the map you will be able to see relevant touristic information, from local train times to recommendations from local tourist offices. Furthermore, the website includes places to stay which are bicycle-friendly.

DOWNLOAD YOUR MAP

Cycling World

After selecting itineraries, routes can be downloaded in PDF format or exported as a GPX file to your GPS or smartphone. You will get a descriptive sheet which includes the itinerary, a map of the cycle ride and the tourist highlights nearby.

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• More than 138,000 km • 91 departments • 2,145 routes for road cyclists • 855 circuits for mountain bikers • 167 major itineraries

Join us at www.veloenfrance.fr

by JL Armand

by Richard Bord

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Summer 2016

Interview: Stephen Roche

C

ycling World Editor asked the Irish ex-pro, who won the Giro d’Italia, The Tour and the World Championships all in 1987, his thoughts on this year’s Tour De France

Ed: What do you think of this year’s route?

SR: This year’s route is very hard, especially the last week with a 17 km mountain TT, only three days before the finish. I think there is something for everyone. The first week sees flat stages with the risk of cross winds, sharp short climbs and some very long stages. The second week is the Pyrenees with the first mountain top finish in Andorra and the stage 12 finish on Mont Ventoux. Then there’s a second time trial on stage 13, only 37 km but very difficult. Then a tough third week in the Alps. Quite a Tour.

Ed: How does it compare to the Tour you won in 1987?

SR: This year’s tour would not have suited me. In 1987, the tour went through the Alps before going to the Pyrenees – which is the opposite to this year. The Pyrenees are very hard, and what suited me in the 1987 tour was that by time we reached them, the top climbers had been tired out from the Alps. Not being the best climber myself, it gave me a better chance.

Ed: Any predictions on who will the GC?

Cycling Promotional World Feture

Stephen Roche

SR: For me, Froome is the main contender, with a route ideal for him. However, Quintana is very close behind, he has a solid team, has progressed in his time trialling and he is strong on mountain top finishes – and there are a few.

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There are also new comers that have become very prominent the past few years and have become serious contenders. They are not looking for places anymore; they are hungry for the overall win. During the off season they train hard, work on their weaker points. Pinot, for example, worked on his time trialling and descending during the off season, and he’s coming strong to the tour. Similarly, Kruijswijk will definitely be one to look out for; just look at his Giro d’Italia performance.

Ed: Is the Tour a very different race from the 80s?

SR: Today’s tour is a very different race to what it was in the 80s. First of all, the commercial interest is much greater, the team budgets are immensely different – a top team budget would have been five million in the 80s, now it’s 40 million. This leads to teams not wanting to take risks and betting everything on one rider – with all team members’ support. This blocks the other riders doing their own thing and seizing opportunities. Race radios have also changed the race a lot, as the team car is in direct contact with the rider, having a huge effect on tactics. Stages also used to be longer, we would have one or two stages of 220-240 km with five or six major climbs.

Ed: How will you be watching the Tour this year?

SR: I will be watching it from up close as I will be working on the Skoda VIP Hospitality program.

1987 Roche in Yellow on Alpe d'Huez by PhSpt 1987 Roche's Triple Washing Line by PhSpt

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Summer 2016

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Cycling World January 2016

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109

AN UNPARALLELED LUXURY CYCLING HOLIDAY

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ycology Travel Ltd has been conceived for those who love cycling and luxury in equal measure, and whose partners share the passion for the high life, but don’t necessarily want to be in the saddle to enjoy it!

Bringing together our love for two-wheeled adventure in Mallorca, Cycology is a trendsetter; a premium cycling holiday company that offers the very best of the island. Mallorca captures the zeitgeist for todays cyclist; a mecca for professionals – Team Sky and IAM – and amateurs alike.

‘Cycology is a unique cycling holiday experience, tailored to the individual needs of the cyclist and catering for the requirements of YSOs (Your Significant Others)’. We scoured the island to ensure we had the very best hotels that can offer our guests a luxurious experience, outstanding cuisine and a premium pillow to rest their heads after a long day in the saddle.

We sought out great partners and hand-picked some of the best coaching, sports nutrition, travel insurance, bikes for those who don’t want to bring their own, or Kidology– our very own offering to keep your young ones happy.

We only offer the best. The only place you will ever see us cut corners is when we’re going around a bend on two wheels!’

Cycling Promotional WorldFeature

Cycology

This October, we can offer two very special packages. The Collective - a partnership with the 5* Son Brull Hotel & Spa, from 28th – 31st October 2016. This is limited to 12 guests and is perfect for groups of friends, clubs or individuals who want to experience the roads and colls of Mallorca as a group.

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Our crowning glory: The Collective Coaching in partnership with pro-cyclists, Rowe & King at the 5* Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa from 23rd – 27th October 2016, limited to 12 guests with professional riders Luke Rowe (Team Sky) and Dani King, MBE (Wiggle High5 Pro). This offering is for those who really want to push their cycling capabilities to the next level.

Whether novice or elite, Rowe & King will help you prepare to achieve your cycling goals. From an initial consultation they prescribe personalised training plans from ten weeks prior to the camp, until four weeks after.

Alternatively, individuals can book their very own Cycology experience whenever they like, and for as many days, so it’s not too late to book the cycling holiday of a lifetime! Places for October events are limited, so you shouldn’t wait too long!

For more information, visit www.cycology. co.uk; find Cycology on social media; call +44(0)20 8912 4522 or email ride@cycology.co.uk

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Summer 2016

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RIDING FROM THE CAPITAL TO THE COASTAL IN THAILAND

E

ight hundred kilometres by bicycle!

It sounds, daunting, intimidating even, but it doesn't have to be.

Covering that distance can actually be inspiring or even satisfying, especially if you leave all the details in the able hands of local experts.

Riding from Bangkok to Phuket along Thailand's famed coasts can tick all the satisfaction boxes of good roads, scenic views, excellent food and miles and miles of beaches.

Starting in Thailand's capital of bustling Bangkok the tour starts with the only

transfer of the entire tour. The traffic is chaotic, with cars gridlocked and motorcycles squeezing between them, so it is a relief to get on the bicycle far away from the chaos. The first road is through salt flats and surprisingly twists and turns through the vast tracts of sea water and every now and then the horizon is punctuated by gleaming white mounds of salt that have been gathered. The riding is fast on the flat road and soon we see the actual sea, which can be blue or green, depending on how the light hits it at the moment.

Taking the distance in manageable chunks cycling no longer becomes a burden, but a delight of the senses as we take in the fresh sea air and even when the less pleasant odor of drying squid punctuates the route. Seeing the colourful fishing boats and their catches of the day is all part of the journey and why we choose to cycle and not be stuck in steel box and pass by these unexpected experiences.

Another sensory overload will be the taste of the food. Thais love their chilies and the spicier the better for some, but luckily all can be ordered without the burn. Must trys will be the Tom Yam Goong, a shrimp soup, as well as grilled or steamed fish. Knowing how appetites are built up biking there will be no shortage of Thai dishes to try.

Most nights are spent at beachside resorts, giving the option of spending the afternoon going for a swim in the sea, taking a sunset stroll or hanging out at the pool. Though once we cycle from east to west across the Isthmus of Kra, which separates the Gulf of Thailand from the Andaman Seo, we spend one night inland surrounded by lush tropical rainforest. The shoreline here is covered with mangroves and is a natural habitat for protecting the shore.

Cycling World

On the way to Phuket we pass by an area where the mangrove was destroyed and see an area badly affected by the 2004 Tsunami, stopping to visit the memorial. It is also remarkable to see how quickly this area has bounced back and rebuilt.

The resort island of Phuket is where we complete our 800 km journey that went by so quickly, and was so easily cycled. Mission accomplished and the sense of achievement will last long after the burn of the chilies from the Tom Yang Goong!

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TOUR INFORMATION Number of days: 10 days / 9 nights Total distance: 800 km Tour grade: 3 chili Tour meet: Bangkok Tour end: Phuket

BURMA, THE LAST FRONTIER

S

ince opening its borders to trade and travel in 2010 Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been rapidly increasing in popularity as an adventure cycling destination. SpiceRoads have been running guided bike tours in the region since long before that time. They have been first to explore new areas as they become accessible to adventurous two wheeled travellers in search of an experience that takes in delightful scenery, culture and cuisine in equal abundance.

Passing the former capital of an ancient kingdom, the journeys penultimate ride ends at Mount Popa, a peaceful retreat affording views of a mountain top monastery nestled in the evening mist. The final leg of this epic trip is perhaps the most incredible, riding into Bagan, a UNESCO world heritage site, with over 2000 individual standing pagodas spanning 4 unique periods. Watching the sun set across this magnificent skyline is a truly life affirming experience that should be on any explorers bucket list.

The journey ends with a flight to Yangon, to explore this colonial city, and take in the famous Schwedagon Pagoda.

There has never been a better time to visit

Burma.

With the successful election of Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD Party, the celebratory atmosphere is palpable.

Visitors to the region will bear witness to the opening act of the new story of Myanmar, the last frontier.

TOUR INFORMATION Number of days: 14 days / 13 nights Total distance: 498 km Tour grade: 3 chili Tour meet and end: Yangon

Summer 2016 Promotional Feature

The route then heads northwards, to Pindaya and its holy caves containing thousands of Buddha images, flanked by giant trees and limestone cliffs. Then further north through incredible pagoda strewn scenery to the banks of the Irrawaddy and Kipling's Mandalay. This bustling town is where old and new collide and every turn through the narrow streets offers fascinating glimpses of the regions rich history. Whilst in Mandalay, riders visit Mingun, a historic area across the river, home to the the ruins of the unfinished 150 metre tall Pahtodawgi Pagoda, a massive shrine as awesome in its presence as the pyramids.

Spice Roads

The culmination of this experience is the 14 day Burma Adventure Tour, arriving in the Old Capital of Yangon before flying into the hills of the once notorious Tribal region of Shan State. The journey begins by winding its way down from the Shan Plateau at Kalaw to Inle Lake, famed for its floating settlements.

There villagers live their lives entirely on the water, tending floating gardens and fishing with traditional hand nets whilst rowing their delicate boats using only one leg.

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PLACES AVAILABLE FOR PRUDENTIAL RIDE 100

Cycling World

Martlets Hospice in Sussex has places available for the Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100 which takes place on Sunday 31July.

Starting in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the course follows a 100 mile route on closed roads through the Capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside; before returning to finish in the Mall.

With leg testing climbs and a route made famous by the London 2012 Olympics, it’s a truly spectacular sponsored ride.

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01273 718780

114 Cycling World

February 2016

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27th

Summer 2016

YEAR

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Cycling World