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CW from far left: Matthew Crompton, Lee Craigie, Neil Wheadon
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FROM THE E DITOR ONE OF THE few chinks of light in the dwindling days of December is that it’s an ideal time to think about where your bike will take you next year. Or, conversely, where you’ll take your bike. For the difference between a cycling holiday and a holiday on which you’ll squeeze in some cycling is easily blurred. You can’t define a cycling holiday by daily mileage nor the number of hours spent in the saddle. And while a moving-on tour with a bike is always a cycling holiday, not all cycling holidays are moving-on tours; the one CTC Cycling Holidays trip I’ve done was a fixed-base tour – and no less enjoyable for that. Perhaps it’s a matter of focus? That’s easily established by gauging the percentage of bike kit in your bags. What unifies the different kinds of trip, aside from the enjoyment you’ll get from riding your bike, is the hassle you’ll likely endure when transporting it. Sometimes that’s minimal: a Brompton in a bag is luggage you can check in, hop on a train with, or stash in a car boot. Sometimes there are hurdles: the cardboard box my 29+ Genesis Longitude last travelled in was so big, it wouldn’t go through airport doorways when balanced on a luggage trolley, nor fit the x-ray machine… or the oversize baggage x-ray. (It went in through an even bigger machine, on a different floor, with millimetres to spare.) But I’d no more have left it behind than my passport or travel documents. A bike is a passport: to fun.
DAN JOYCE Cycle editor
Contents EVERY ISSUE
THIS ISSUE
04 B I G P I C T U R E
30 R O C K S , C R O C S & WAT E R FA L L S
Get kitted out in style this Christmas
07 F R O M T H E C H I E F EXECUTIVE Paul Tuohy reflects on off-road riding and political progress
08 C Y C L E S H O R T S Recycling centre 1st Step Bikes, Cycling UK’s member conference, ‘Tube’ maps for cyclists, Big Bike Revival rides, and more
16 S H O P W I N D O W Festive gift ideas for cyclists
Membership Get five years’ membership for the price of four. Phone 01483 238301
Bikepacking Australia’s Top End
36 A L O N G D I S T A N C E CALLING Mark Beaumont, Lee Craigie, and LEL rider Lucien Poppe on endurance cycling
46 N O R T H E R N I S L A N D S
Norway’s wonderful Lofoten Islands
51 C T C C Y C L I N G H O L I D AY S Where will you go in 2018?
60 D O - I T - A L L D R O P B A R BIKES Sonder Camino Ti & Whyte Friston compared
68 C I R C E H E L I O S S T E P S
18 G E A R Components, accessories, and books reviewed
27 L E T T E R S
An ultra-versatile electric-assist tandem
70 G P S N A V I G A T I O N DEVICES Four units for finding your way
Your feedback on Cycle and cycling
55 Q & A Your technical, health and legal questions answered
81 T R A V E L L E R S ’ T A L E S Cycling UK members’ ride reports
ON THE COVER Mark Beaumont in Australia, on day 40 of his 80-day epic. By Johnny Swane-Poel © artemisworldcycle.com
Cycling UK, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX E: cycling@cyclinguk.org W: cyclinguk.org T: 0844 736 8450* or 01483 238300
Founded in 1878
Cycle promotes the work of Cycling UK. Cycle’s circulation is approx. 51,000. Cycling UK is one of the UK’s largest cycling membership organisations, with 67,000 members and affiliates Patron: Her Majesty the Queen President: Jon Snow Chief Executive: Paul Tuohy. Cyclists’ Touring Club, a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England No 25185, registered as a charity in England and Wales Charity No 1147607 and in Scotland No SC042541. Registered office: Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX. CYCLE MAGAZINE: Editor: Dan Joyce e: cycle@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk Head of Design: Simon Goddard Designer: Katrina Ravn Additional proofreading: Julie Rand Advertising: Anna Vassallo tel: 0203 859 7100 e: anna.vassallo@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk Publisher: James Houston. Cycle is published six times per year on behalf of Cycling UK by James Pembroke Publishing, 90 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BG. Tel: 01225 337777. Cycle is copyright Cycling UK, James Pembroke Media and individual contributors. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission from Cycling UK and James Pembroke Media is forbidden. Views expressed in the magazine are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the policies of Cycling UK. Advertising bookings are subject to availability, the terms and conditions of James Pembroke Media, and final approval by Cycling UK. Printed by: Precision Colour Printing, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, TF7 4QQ. Tel: 01952 585585 *0844 numbers are ‘basic rate’, costing under 5p/min plus your phone company’s access charge on a BT landline. Other providers may charge more.
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Comment & interviews
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Right: David Cook
THIS MONTH CYCLING UK’S BIG BIKE CELEBRATION IN BIRMINGHAM, CYCLING ‘TUBE MAPS’, AND MORE
(L to R) Stephen, Maria, Steven
Local Heroes
1st STEP BIKES This bike recycling project in Scotland helps people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Dan Joyce found out how
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IXING BIKES CAN provide focus and purpose for anyone taking steps to recover from addiction. As well as bringing bikes back into service, the process helps get lives back on track. That’s been the experience of 1st Step Bikes in Linlithgow, West Lothian, who were named joint Best Community Project in Cycling UK’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year awards (see p10). ‘Boredom and stigma are barriers to recovery,’ said Development Manager Maria Throp. ‘If you can offer activities that people can be proud to be involved in, and that also attract the wider community, you can promote understanding, good relationships, and real recovery.’
8 C Y C L E D ECEMBER /JAN U ARY 2017/18
1st Step began as a community café two and a half years ago. The diversification into bike recycling was inspired by Angie Robinson, a Senior Community Mental Health Nurse in addictions. ‘She knew a cycle mechanic who was trained while in prison,’ Maria said. ‘She was keen to tap into his skills and start a bike project.’ Enter Maria, who had set up a community bike recycling project seven years ago in Inverness (Black Ridge Bikes). ‘We developed a six-week bike refurbishment course for people affected by addiction,’ Maria said. ‘Participants choose a donated bike and fix it up, one day a week. They can keep the bikes at the end, when we celebrate with a bike ride.
Some have done up bikes for children, and we donated five to charity for Christmas.’ Many participants are referred by Angie Robinson. ‘She has built up trust with the patients with addiction that she is caring for,’ Maria said. ‘And because they trust Angie, they’ve come along and given it a go.’ The initial attraction is getting a bike and the transport freedom it offers; most participants are on benefits or low wages. ‘They stay because they are quickly engaged in learning new skills and in building up regular routines,’ Maria said. ‘They get peer support from our mechanics, Stephen McKnight and Steven Murphy, who mentor them as well as teaching them skills. And they have huge pride when they have completed their bike.’ That pride and sense of satisfaction is something that Stephen McKnight, who like Steven Murphy is in recovery himself, can relate to. ‘Being involved in the bike project has given me something to focus on and to commit to, which has raised my motivation,’ he said. ‘It has reduced my social anxiety, through having to talk to the group and also one to one. I feel more confident. Helping others has raised my self-esteem.’ It’s not just the participants who benefit. Police Scotland work in partnership with 1st Step, and Community Policing Inspector Scott Robinson said: ‘The work put in by the team to gain the support of the local community, and the subsequent ongoing benefits for that wider community, are huge.’ Some of those benefits were realised in May, when 1st Step’s two mechanics provided bike checks and repairs for over 25 people as part of Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival project. That was followed by 1st Step’s first led ride – ‘a lovely family event’, said Maria. 1st Step are now developing a local cycling group, as they’ve been able to train three ride leaders and four first-aiders through their affiliation to Cycling UK. A move to bigger premises is also on the cards. 1st Step’s Facebook page is: facebook. com/1stStepCafe/
PRODUCT NEWS | SHOP WINDOW
Product news
Christmas lights
The Lezyne lights below are FREE with Cycling UK Gift Membership. For details, along with terms & conditions, see cyclinguk.org/gift
MERRY CHRISTMAS! A NEW BIKE ISN’T GOING TO FIT IN THAT CHRISTMAS STOCKING. SO HERE ARE SOME SMALLER GIFT IDEAS FOR £50 OR LESS. BY DAN JOYCE
DAN JOYCE Cycle editor
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WOODEN BICYCLE DECORATIONS £1.75+
Christmas decorations with a cycling theme. Options include a wooden Brompton, wooden tandems, and hearts, trees, and snowflakes with cycling cut-outs. cyclemiles.co.uk
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WAHOO TICKR HRM £39.99
A heart rate monitor will tell you if you’re working hard enough to shift those Christmas calories. This one’s great value because it uses your smartphone as its display. Also works with Garmins etc. uk.wahoofitness.com
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Fragrances and bath products are all very well, but what cyclists want is a pampered bike. This eco-friendly kit has everything you need to keep your bike and conscience clean. greenoil.cc
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LEZYNE KTV2 DRIVE £37.99 PAIR
These little lights emit up to 180 lumens from two bright LEDs and have integral USB chargers, so there are no cables to get lost or – like the fairy lights in the attic – tangled. They strap to the bike or clip to clothing. lezyne.com
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GREEN OIL ECO RIDER DELUXE SET £44.99
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FLAMME ROUGE €37
No more arguments over Monopoly: try this family-friendly bike racing game instead. It has a nice mix of luck and tactics and lasts only 30-45 minutes. It’s for 2-4 players. lautapelit.fi/HOME
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FLYING FERGUS 6: THE CYCLE SEARCH AND RESCUE £4.99
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CORINNE DENNIS PADDED UNDIES £29.99
It’s not Christmas without a new book. The latest instalment in Chris Hoy and Joanna Nadin’s popular Flying Fergus series should keep primary school age cyclists entertained. flyingfergus.co.uk
An underwear gift that won’t go unwanted. These padded undies, available for men and women, are a practical alternative to Lycra shorts, worn under normal shorts etc. corinnedennis.co.uk
D E TA I L S WHERE: Australia’s Northern Territory START/FINISH: From Darwin to Kakadu DISTANCE: 620km over 9 days PICTURES: Matthew Crompton
AUSTRALIA | GRE AT RIDES
Great rides
ROCKS, CROCS & WATERFALLS With dirt roads and temperatures around 40°C, Australia’s Top End isn’t an easy place to tour – but Matthew Crompton loved it
‘M
ate, I’ve set the traps at Maguk – I wouldn’t swim there.’ Billy was a ranger at Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory. I’d run into him on the fourth day of my tour at a pub in Pine Creek, the old gold rush town just outside the park’s southern border. ‘You see, freshies, they’ll just take a bite out of you.’ He was speaking of crocodiles here as he paused to drag on a cigarette. ‘But the salties, they won’t just kill you – they’ll stalk you to kill you.’ It wasn’t an idle threat. Saltwater crocodiles, by many reckonings the world’s most dangerous large animal, were everywhere in tropical northern Australia. As a species, they’d failed to get the memo that humans were predators rather than prey, a disconcerting fact for an aggressive ambush hunter that grows up to seven metres in length and often weighs north of 500kg. They’d killed more than 100 people in Australia in the last 40 years, including one in Kakadu, where I was headed, just a year before. Yet when I arrived at Maguk Gorge the next day in the withering 38°C heat of early afternoon, filthy and sunburnt from having cycled 60km up the highway and a further 10km along a heavily corrugated red-dirt
road, I was so cooked I was willing to take my chances. I locked my bike to a tree at the end of a narrow sandy path and scrambled over the rocks to the gorge itself – a large clear pool reflecting blue sky, a waterfall plunging into it over the walls of the escarpment – and with a cry, leapt into the cool clear water. Surfacing, treading water alone in the emptiness of the gorge, I could have been in Gondwanaland, some primeval Earth long before recorded time, the insects loud in the trees and myself some early man bearing witness to creation. This was exactly what I’d come for.
REMOTE RIDING I will concede at this point that the Top End – the local’s name for the northern extreme of the Northern Territory – is a questionable location for a bicycle tour. The shocking heat, ever-present crocodiles, and sheer remoteness are all arguments for taking a leisurely pedal around the Australian wine country instead. Yet the Top End is also exactly the Australia that people so often dream of: a vast, wild, and unpopulated landscape that not only teems with life but is ever-changing thanks to its yearly cycles of drought and flood, the Dry and the Wet.
Do it yourself
NORTHERN TERRITORY I flew Sydney to Darwin direct on Jetstar (it’s a redeye flight), and transported the boxed bike to and from the airport in taxis. I hitched a ride back from Jabiru to Darwin (plenty of caravanners heading that way every day). As conditions are harsh and resupply points, even for water, can be few and far between, it’s vital to plan carefully where you’ll be able to stock up along the route. Darwin, Pine Creek and Jabiru are the main service towns.
THE TOP END IS THE AUSTRALIA THAT PEOPLE SO OFTEN DREAM OF: A VAST, WILD, AND UNPOPULATED LANDSCAPE CYCL I N G U K.O RG CYCL E 3 1
F E AT U R E | LO N G D IS TA N C E
Feature
A LONGDISTANCE CALLING ENDURANCE CYCLING CHALLENGES ARE INCREASINGLY POPULAR. JOURNALIST MATT LAMY SPOKE TO THREE RIDERS ABOUT THEIR JOURNEYS, THEIR REASONS, AND THEIR BIKES
DAY 4 0 O F 8 0 Mark Beaumont on the Newell Highway (Jerilderie, Australia). Half way!
3 6 C Y C L E D ECEMBER /JANUARY 2017/18
LO N G D IS TA N C E | F E AT U R E
ltra-distance cycle challenges such as the Paris-Brest-Paris audax or Race Across America (RAAM) have been around for decades and continue to attract good numbers of riders. However, in recent years there has been a jump in the number and popularity of massive-mileage rides, ranging from organised events such as the TransContinental Race and LondonEdinburgh-London audax, to the record for the greatest distance cycled in a year. I spoke to three ultra-distance adventurers – newly-crowned round-theworld cycling record holder Mark Beaumont; Lee Craigie, who left top-level crosscountry racing to take on the Tour Divide; and Lucien Poppe, who swapped extreme marathon running to ride London-EdinburghLondon on a velomobile – about the experience of riding from dusk to dawn, day after day, and the bikes they used to do it.
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MARK BEAUMONT: ROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Few can lay claim to the same level of ultraendurance experience as Mark Beaumont. From cycling the Americas, Africa, and
around the world, to rowing in the Atlantic and Canadian Arctic, he is an adventurer known for his extreme exploits. And that, he said, counted for a huge amount when it came to possibly his greatest physical challenge earlier this year: circumnavigating the world by bike in under 80 days. ‘I don’t think you could even dream about cycling around the world in 80 days if you didn’t have a lot of expedition experience,’ Mark said. ‘I train with people who are stronger bike riders than me in the traditional sense. If we were doing a crit race or a road race or a sportive, they would be faster than me. What sets me up to be a good ultraendurance rider is something different. ‘My ability to ride 16 hours a day, 240 miles a day, is based on experience and my resilience to injury. I think that is one of the biggest parts: it’s not about out-and-out strength or power; it’s the ability to not get injured over days, weeks or months of activity without proper recovery time. ‘The other reason why you need previous experience of this is the level of psychology necessary. I think the scale of these challenges would freak out most riders, even if they could physically do it. So even if you have the perfect team behind you, the
X-Factor needed to do this is the ability to suffer. How much grit have you got? You can only learn that from doing mega expedition riding.’ Unlike Mark’s solo world record ride back in 2008, for the sub 80-day challenge he did have the perfect team supporting him with logistical, medical and mechanical back-up. It was a revolutionary approach to the circumnavigation world record. ‘I took probably more inspiration from round the world sailors and flying records; things where it’s become really a very professional race around the planet. This was not bikepacking or expedition touring, this was pure performance. I’m not pretending that it’s the same as I did 10 years ago; this was very different. I really wanted to take the circumnavigation record to the next level,’ Mark said. Consequently, the bike Mark used wasn’t the Koga touring or trekking machines of previous attempts but rather a carbon road bike with Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic gearing and hydraulic disc brakes. It was still built by Koga, and featured a relatively high front end, being designed to cope with the specific demands of this challenge. ‘Other cyclists seemed to think that I was
CYCL I N G U K.O RG CYCL E 3 7
EXPERT ADVICE | Q&A
Expert advice
MEET THE EXPERTS
YOUR TECHNICAL, LEGAL, AND HEALTH QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THIS ISSUE: DEALING WITH ANAEMIA, SPOKE BREAKAGES, AVOIDING FALLS, AND MORE
D R M AT T B R O O K S Cycling GP {Health}
?
Question of the month
Left: Nick Moore / Alamy
RICHARD HALLETT Cycle’s Technical Editor {Technical}
A blood test to check iron levels
RICHARD GAFFNEY Principal Lawyer, Slater + Gordon Lawyers {Legal}
Health
CYCLING WITH ANAEMIA
I
’ve found myself exhausted for days after harder-than-usual rides. I’ve also noticed that I’m prone to viral infection. A blood test revealed that I am slightly anaemic (13.2g/dl). My GP has asked for another test in three months. At 65, I wish to carry on cycling. Must I stop/reduce the long, hard rides to prevent ‘crashing’? Eric Gorton
A
naemia is the term used for levels of haemoglobin in the blood which are below normal. Haemoglobin binds oxygen, so anaemia results in less oxygen being carried around the body. Symptoms include feeling breathless, dizzy and tired. The
severity of symptoms will, in part, depend on the level of anaemia. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow, and a constant new supply is needed to replace old cells that break down. This requires a healthy bone marrow and nutrients including iron and some vitamins such as vitamin B12 and folic acid. A one-off haemoglobin level just below normal needs repeating as it may be transient. However, if the anaemia is persistent or worsening, investigation will be required to identify the cause. Your GP can do blood tests to check iron stores, vitamin B12 and folate levels. Other tests may be required – for instance, looking for possible blood loss in iron-deficiency anaemia. Iron-deficiency anaemia may be due to: blood loss (for instance, from the bowel); pregnancy or heavy menstrual periods in women; poor diet; or poor absorption of iron e.g. in coeliac disease. Other causes of anaemia include folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency, red blood cell disorders, bone
marrow problems, and chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or kidney disease. Treatment of anaemia depends on the cause but may involve iron tablets or vitamin B12 injections. In mild anaemia, symptoms are likely to be less problematic although this will depend on factors such as your general fitness and other health conditions. You may have to reduce longer more strenuous rides to compensate but if the cause for your anaemia is identified and treated, this may only be temporary. Dr Matt Brooks
Doctor callout After 10 years of writing for Cycle, Dr Matt Brooks is standing down in 2018. Would you like to be paid to answer one health query per issue? You must be a cyclist with wideranging medical knowledge – for example, a GP. For details, email cycle@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk.
CYCL I N G U K.O RG CYCL E 5 5
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BIKE TEST | GR AVEL BIKES
DAN JOYCE Cycle editor
Bike test
GRAVEL BIKES
Jacks of all trades or masters of none? Editor Dan Joyce tested two British designed models, the Sonder Camino Ti and Whyte Friston
G
O ANYWHERE, DO ANYTHING: that’s the gist of gravel bikes. It’s an exaggeration. These cyclocross-inspired bikes aren’t quite as versatile as they’re made out to be; see last issue for my take on one-bikefor-everything. Yet they’re undeniably more versatile than skinny-tyred carbon road bikes, which MAMILs have gravitated towards until now. And there is something appealing and practical about a lightweight, general-purpose road bike with wider tyres that will happily tackle dirt roads as well as club riding, commuting, bikepacking, and light touring. It won’t always be the best bike for any given job, but it’ll never be the worst. Most bike companies have one or more gravel bikes in their range. The two on test are both designed in Britain. Sonder is the bike range of outdoor clothing and equipment company, Alpkit. The Camino Ti is a keenly priced titanium bike that exists in a range of builds or can be bought as a frame and fork for £1,199. For those with shallower pockets, there’s an aluminium version, the Camino Al, with builds starting at £829 and the frame and fork just £300. Whyte’s background is in mountain bikes and this shows in the Friston, not just in the disc brakes that all Whyte’s drop-bar
bikes have, but also in the geometry: long reach, short stem, wide handlebar, shallower head angle. These features signify real offroad intent – although not so obviously as the dropper seatpost fitted to the Friston’s £300-dearer stablemate, the Gisburn.
FRAME & FORK As titanium frames go, the Sonder Camino Ti is inexpensive. It doesn’t look or feel cheap. The TIG-welding is tidy, and its 44mm-internal head tube neatly accommodates a tapered steerer, courtesy of an external lower headset bearing. Because the head tube is long, the riding position is fairly relaxed even though the top tube length is about average for the frame size. I was pleased to see a threaded bottom bracket (perhaps creaky press-fits have finally had their day?), and there are ample frame fittings. Cables are fully covered and, aside form the front brake, are routed externally, which simplifies replacement. The dropouts are old-school quick release ones, which is good news if you’re building up a frame on a budget as you may have some old touring or 29er wheels to reuse. Alternatively you might fit 650B wheels, for the Sonder will take those too. Tyres up to 40mm will fit in 700C, up to 47 or 48mm
I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THREADED BOTTOM BRACKETS – PERHAPS CREAKY PRESS-FITS HAVE FINALLY HAD THEIR DAY? 6 0 C Y C L E D ECEMBER /JANUARY 2017/18
in smaller-diameter 650B. There’s a good case for the latter. The bottom bracket height would drop using 650B (by ~12mm with those tyre sizes), but wouldn’t be excessively low. There would be more clearance under the fork crown, currently a miserly 6mm. You’d gain more rough-road comfort and control. And for me it would mean no toe overlap; as it was, my size 8 winter SPD boots grazed the front tyre. I could live with it but wouldn’t fit a full-length front mudguard. That would be difficult with the existing fork anyway, as there’s no hole in the fork crown and no eyelets on the fork legs. If you want those features, you’ll need to ask Alpkit to fit the fork from the aluminium Camino instead. As well as having fittings, it saves you £50 because it has an alloy steerer. If you want to stick with 700C wheels and don’t want toe overlap, there are a couple of options. One is to buy the next size up, assuming you can stand over it. A size L is 20mm longer than the M, which you could
Above: Tight clearance and no hole in the fork crown. If you want a mudguard, ask for the Camino Al fork instead
GR AVEL BIKES | BIKE TEST
SONDER CAMINO TI A keenly-priced titanium gravel bike that would arguably be better with 650B wheels
WHYTE FRISTON Interesting frame geometry choices, coupled with outstanding brakes
CYCL I N G U K.O RG CYCL E
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GROUPTEST | GPS COMPUTERS
Group test
GPS COMPUTERS Whether you’re on tour, riding an audax or sportive, or simply fitness training, GPS units have lots to offer. Club cyclist Graham Dunn reviews four
GRAHAM DUNN Club cyclist
D I S PL AY At a given resolution, a larger screen shows more of your OS map or OpenStreetMap (if the device supports them) giving a clearer sense of where you are. If you’re only following a breadcrumb trail and/or turn prompts, screen size is less important – ditto colour.
PL A N N I N G & N AV I G ATI O N Some will only import routes from your computer. Others will plan routes on the fly, sometimes in conjunction with your phone. Do you need directions in real time, with visual and audible warnings at each turn? A get-you-home mode?
BAT TE RY L I F E Most use integral, USBrechargeable batteries that will last a long day’s ride or more. If you’re touring, consider a dynohub recharging setup, a cache battery, or a device that takes disposables.
C
YCLISTS HAVE ALWAYS been keen on knowing where they’re going, planning routes, and checking out how far, how fast, and how high they’ve been. Paper maps are great for route planning and fine for on-road navigation, and simple computers with a wheel sensor will record vital data. A GPS device brings all that together, as well as showing where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going. One option is your smartphone. With its embedded mapping function backed up by one of the multitude of navigation and performance tracking apps, it may do everything you need. Yet smartphone battery life can be poor, and phones are not particularly robust or weatherproof. The other option is a dedicated GPS computer. These range from relatively simple devices that give you just the stats of your ride, through to fully interactive navigation computers that will keep you in touch with social media whilst monitoring your heart, power, and cadence, as well as where you’re going. We’ve focused here on devices that you can use for navigation.
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O PE R ATI O N Touch screens are awkward on the move or with gloved hands. The fewer menus and buttons there are, the easier the device will be to use while riding.
R I D E DATA All GPS computers will log and display things like distance travelled, average speed, and so on. Some will also do heart rate, power, and cadence, given appropriate sensors. A customisable display limits extraneous info.
How to take charge Keeping any electronic device topped up when you’re on tour, and away from power points, requires planning. See bit.ly/cycle-takecharge for various solutions.
Travellers’ tales
By Pontsticill Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons
Cardiff to Caernarfon GARETH ROBERTS ENJOYED A WELSH END -TO-END WITH FRIENDS CHARLIE AND PATRICK
Topping off Xmas with a nice desert
E SCAPE TO THE SAHAR A Becci May and her partner Owen spent Christmas cycling through Morocco
A
fter flying to Morocco on Christmas Eve, and spending Christmas Day in Marrakesh, Owen and I set off for the Atlas Mountains. We headed up the pass of Tizi n’Tichka, tichka meaning ‘difficult’. The most difficult things were the narrow bends and the number of large vehicles. Frequent calls of ‘bonjour, ça va?’ and ‘bon voyage’ encouraged us onwards and upwards. Once over the snowy pass, we rode along a river valley and through an oasis of date palms to reach Tagounite. From there, we headed off onto the desert track. We had 15 litres of water, mostly carried by Owen. We were warned we’d need a 4×4 but our Thorn Raven tourers dealt with the desert amazingly well.
Share your story Cycle wants your Travellers’ Tales. Email the editor – cycle@jamespembrokemedia. co.uk – for advice on what’s required.
8 2 C Y C L E D ECEMBER /JANUARY 2017/18
Camping in the desert was special: fantastic sunsets and sunrises, countless stars, and so peaceful. We spent New Year’s Eve watching the sun go down, snug in our warm sleeping bags in the cold air. We even saw a shooting star that night. At Foum Zguid, after four days and 175km of desert riding, we hit tarmac again. Passing a military post, we were greeted with calls of ‘très, très, TRÈS bien’ from the Moroccan military. That beats ‘kudos’ on Strava! Making our way back over the High Atlas, this time we zig-zagged up to the Tizi n’Test pass. It was a decent gradient, with amazing views all the way. Morocco is the most welcoming place that I’ve experienced as a cycle tourist, and the desert is a great place to spend Christmas and New Year. Owen made a video of the trip – visit https://vimeo.com/239258598.
he narrow lane approaching Dolgellau was covered with sheep droppings and the overspill of grass verges; our tyres struggled to grip. This steep ascent was our big challenge for the third and final day of our ride from Cardiff Castle to Caernarfon Castle. We started on NCN Route 8, following the River Taff for over 35 miles. We stopped at Aberfan and visited the site of the former school where 116 children and 28 adults tragically died in 1966. Next was Merthyr Tydfil, before we took on the Brecon Beacons. It soon became apparent that this was the place for sturdy bikes with broad tyres. Ten miles into our second day, we faced another big climb to Builth Wells. We then followed the River Wye before arriving in Rhayader. Our residence for the night was a remote pub in the wilderness: Y Star Inn in Dylife. With 75 miles to ride on day three, we passed through Machynlleth and Dolgellau, and then along the Mawddach Trail to Barmouth. The next leg took us along the Cambrian Coast to Harlech, home of another castle. We rode through Portmadoc and headed for the Lon Eifion Cycle Way at Bryncir, which left us with a 12-mile ride to Caernarfon, where the castle dominated the landscape. We’d done 188 miles.
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Starting from Cardiff Castle