Cw march 2017

Cycling

March 2017| 1

ESTABLISHED 1979

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2 | Cycling World

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March 2017| 3

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4 | Cycling World

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CONT 6 | Cycling World

REGULARS 112

From the Workshop:

Change Your Disc Brake Pads

156

The Bicycle Diaries: Turkey to Lebanon

14 - TOURING FRANCE 42 - SCOTLAND FEATURE BIKE BITS 54 Top Bikes 2016 56 Products 96 RAB Bike Review

THE WORLD OF CYCLING 66 68 96 114

London UCI Film Review Not your Ordinary Cycle Shop Anna Flanders

74 - PEAK DISTRICT FEATURE OVERSEAS 124 134 142

Columbia Ibiza | Coming of Age for Cyclists My First Taste of Italy

ENTS March 2017| 7

March 2017

Stripped of the titles, Armstrong retains the jerseys

Further details at: www.c Monsal Trail by Martin Brent

e for s year

Caravan Club Site, Stavel The Firs Caravan Club Sit Uttoxeter Racecourse Ca

The Caravan Club has tea 35 cycling routes which c doorstep of many Carava

Each route is highlighted amount of traffic, suitabil where to stop for refresh extensions making it simp For more information on caravanclub.co.uk/uk-hol

Foster was coached ride by pros Cycling to World

62

December 2015

Monsal Head by Karen Frenkel

CYCLING EVENT

On 29 May 2016, Experie Club, in partnership with is encouraging cyclists to of activities based at Wes Shropshire. Cyclists can t of three routes, 56, 80, 10 enjoy fun activities and th selection of motorhomes

8 | Cycling World

March 2017

ED's LETTER T his is the time of year that I get the cyclist’s equivalent of itchy feet. I am reluctant to say what part of my anatomy is equivalently itching, as I’m sure you get the idea. The cause is having already watched two Grand Tours. May saw a thrilling Giro d’Italia with stages linking snow-capped mountains and sandy beaches. July hosted a breathtaking Tour starting just over the Channel in cyclingfriendly Normandy.

Now the delights of August will be sun-drenched with a predominantly arid Veulta a Espana and an exotically humid Olympics; both harsh reminders of what a wet summer we are having.

Thankfully the UK’s longer days and slightly warmer temperatures do facilitate more bike riding, though I have been experiencing the greatest use of both waterproofs and tyre levers so far this year. Kent is flint country, rain washes it onto the road and no tyre, however many words like plus, proof or skin are added, can resist this Palaeolithic cutting tool.

No matter, it is the holiday season and this must be embraced. When the children start to climb the curtains or get lost in their own PC World- Project Catatonia- it’s time to consider Project Catalonia.

Bike touring could be your salvation.

A tour could be an unvisited area of the UK, even just for the weekend. Tags and trailers make the transportation of family members not only possible, but dragging all the weight uphill is great training for that late summer sportive. Bikes can be taken on trains and it gets easier once across the Channel. If a more distant location is desired, bikes can be boxedup on planes or hired on arrival.

Don’t let the summer slip by as you watch highlights from places that are cycling paradises while the children reenact physical activity on a screen. Get out there- whatever the weather.

"Thanet Road Club has no pitch, no square, no stadium, no clubhouse. We meet at bus stops, slip roads, car parks, rented tracks. But we are all over Thanet and beyond in East Kent- on the A roads, B roads, minor roads, tracks and paths. Our history is tucked away in photo albums under beds, scrapbooks at the bottom of sideboards, boxes of trophies stuffed away in garages, medals packed away in the loft. There is a risk it all ends up getting thrown away.”

David Robert, film director, in a note to the production company, 5.7.15.

March 2017| 9

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10 | Cycling World

PUBLISHED BY Cycling World Limited Myrtle Oast Kemsdale Road, Fostall Faversham, Kent

PRODUCTION Editor David Robert editor@cyclingworldmag.co.uk Graphic Designer Matthew Head working alongside BrightSky.uk

ME13 9JL Tel: 01227 750153 Publisher Colin Woolley colin@cyclingworldmag.co.uk

ADVERTISING Sales Manager Simon White simon@cyclingworldmagazine.com Sales Executive Alice Allwright alice@cplmedia.net Sales Executive Vinny Deadman

DISTRIBUTED BY COMAG Tavistock Road, West Drayton Middlesex UB7 7QE

vinny@cplmedia.eu Sales Executive Ryan Graves ryan@cplmedia.net Sales Executive Tom Thorman tom@cplmedia.net Sales Executive Harry Barrow harry@cplmedia.net

CONTRIBUTORS

Marcus Pereda, Scot Christian, Jim Dickson, Martial Prévalet, Rebecca Lowe, Anita Powell, Iain Marshall, Simon Postgate, Amanda O’Hare, Martin Bailey, David Robert, Tim Ramsden, Mike Wells, Professor Robert Thomas, Wendy Johnson, Kajsa Tylen

Cycling World

FRONT COVER DETAILS:

Van Imp and Zoetemelk -summit of Puy-de-Dome, courtesy Offside/ L’Equipe from The Great Bike Race, Velodrome Publishing

@CyclingWorlduk

@CyclingWorld_uk

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

March 2017| 11

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

. o m a l A & h t l a e t S s Kudo sport E-Biking.

12 | Cycling World

The future of

The development of E-Bikes is evolving such that the appearance and ride is getting ever closer to non assisted road and sport bikes. The Stealth and Alamo bikes are ideal for the rider who needs some assistance up hills but wishes to retain a fast sport cycling experience.

Stealth

Bike Review Rally £935 inc. VAT Alamo

SPECIFICATIONS • 700C x 28 tyres • 6061-T6 aluminium frame • Shimano Acera 8-speed derailleur, 46 tooth chain ring • Speed (rotational) power sensor • Black Shimano ‘V’ rim brakes, Tektro cut-outs • Brushless Bafang 36v x 250 watt rear hub motor • Samsung in-frame lithium 36v x 11.6Ah battery, lockable • Charger with UK plug • LCD display with 6 assistance levels, speedo and odometer

With an 11.6 concealed b Ah semilow rolling reattery, tyres and th sistance anticipation e rider will in that the power on th put some E-Bike shoue flat, this fifty mile ‘pluld have a Includes mu s’ range. kickstand, L dguards, display withCD assistance le six off throttle vels, set legal reflec and all Lightweigh tors. t at only 19.2kg.

• 6kmh set off throttle • Wheel, front and rear reflectors • Range 30 - 50 miles, dependent upon rider input and terrain • Weight 19.2kgs • Colour scheme - Alamo: Khaki colour with khaki tyres, contrasting colour keyed graphics • Colour scheme - Stealth: Grey colour with khaki tyres, contrasting colour keyed graphics

Kudos Headquarters Unit 4, St. Augustine’s Business Park, Estuary Way, Swalecliffe, Kent CT5 2QJ Tel. 01227 792792 www.kudoscycles.com

Kudos CYCLES

The fantastic new Kudos K16 & Secret Electric Bikes.

March 2017| 13

Ideal transport to get you down to the local village, get back up the hill and not lose your favourite pitch. The K16 is light (only 15kgs), folds in less than ten seconds, easily stowed on a rear rack or in a garage, has a long range (30-50 miles) and will easily carry a 90kg rider up the steepest of hills. A perfect partner to any motorhome.

Fold Me.

The Kudos K16 (16” wheels)

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£735 inc.VAT Bike Review Rally The Secret model has 20” wheels, six-speed Revoshift gears, mudguards and lights.

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CYCLES

14 | Cycling World 14

March 2017| 15

Touring 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!

16 | Cycling World

Tour de France Grand Départ Normandy

H

aving started in Yorkshire in 2014 and in Utrecht in Holland in 2015, the Tour de France 2016 Grand Départ returns to France, with three stages taking place in La Manche, Normandy. Each Grand Départ makes a great impression, launching the start of the best-known cycle race in the world, which lasts three weeks every year. In 2016, La Manche and Normandy will be in the spotlight over three days at the start of July, benefitting from the broadcasting in 190 countries around the globe, 60 of which will be covering events live. The Tour’s riders will crisscross the whole region of La Manche, from the three stage towns, then crossing 137 communes (French parishes or municipalities) to reach two finish towns, with some magnificent panoramas to enjoy along the way, covering 435km in all, a record distance for a Grand Départ!

The county’s range of landscape and heritage has made it an incredibly popular tourist destination.

Its unspoilt coastline of over 350km stretches between picturesque bays, islands, capes, havens, creeks and long, sandy beaches. Inland is a mix of marshlands and pasturelands, the latter separated by ancient hedges, known as le bocage.

La Manche also boasts the largest network of county roads in France – ideal for cycling!

ENJOY THE SIGHTS OF THE GRAND DÉPART STAGE 1 SATURDAY 2 JULY 2016 MONTSAINT- MICHEL > UTAH BEACH 188 km THE BAY OF MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - LISTED “WORLD HERITAGE” BY UNESCO Dominating the fortified village and its charming lanes, the Abbey of the Mont-Saint-Michel bears testament to the architectural mastery of its medieval builders. It consists of over 20 chambers, among them a pre-Romanesque chapel, Romanesque religious buildings, a Gothic wing known as ‘the Marvel’ and the Flamboyant Gothic choir end to the Abbey church.

The Bay of the Mont-Saint-Michel boasts one of the largest tidal ranges in the world (the Bay of Fundy in Canada has the biggest range), allowing you to enjoy the extraordinary spectacle of high tides marked by exceptionally high waters. Once 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 SainteMère-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. 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.

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

CHERBOURG, GATEWAY TO AMERICA\

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. 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

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18 | Cycling World 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. 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 Just reopened in June, the Quasar and theThomas 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 “D-Day Beaches / Mont Saint-Michel” route is 230 km long and combines “voies vertes” (130km) and country lanes. www.debarquementmontsaintmichel-avelo.com - The “Tour of la Manche” (European project “CycleWest”) 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.

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

March 2017| 19

(if not the World)

One of the Greatest Climbs in France

M

ount Ventoux is legendary for being one of the most gruelling climbs in the Tour de France. The mountain, known as the Géant (Giant) of Provence is the largest in the region and is 15km north east of Carpentras in the Vaucluse.

Geologically Mt Ventoux is part of the Alps but stands alone to the west of the Luberon valley and to the east of the Dentelles de Montmirail, which form the foothills of Mt Ventoux.

Cyclist come from all over the world to make the climb which can be achieved by three separate routes. The most famous, and difficult, ascent being the road from Bédoin, south of the summit (22km over 1610m).

The second is the road from Malaucène to the east (21km over 1570m), which is less exposed, and the last and easiest route from Sault to the west (26km over 1220m). Ride all three routes in a day and you qualify for membership to the legendary Club des Cinglés, a remarkable achievement of some 137kms and a total altitude of 4,400m.

The best months to make the climb are April, May, June and September, and if you like speed the downhill returns are exhilarating. It is also possible to drive up and on a clear day the view from the top is breathtaking.

However Mt Ventoux is not just about reaching the summit, the area abounds in wonderful well documented

road routes well suited to all riding abilities and also numerous mountain-biking trails in the surrounding hills providing magnificent scenery and thrilling rides.

The perfect cycling base to experience all of this is Bedoin, the small village at the foot of the mountain.

The architecture is typical of Provence with tree lined streets, the famous Monday market and more than a dozen restaurants. There is also an excellent cycle rental shop.

For accommodation the perfect solution can be found only 1.5kms from the centre of the village. Surrounded by fields and truffle woods, two stylish houses stand side by side, with long views north to Mt Ventoux and south towards the Luberon.

The Flop House is a lovely 19th-century farmhouse sleeping ten while La Maison de Lune, which is smaller and sleeps six is reached via its own lane.

Both houses are perfect for families and are spread over two levels, with delightful en-suite bedrooms, and if you a cyclist who likes laid-back luxury, you’ll find it all here. Each house it’s own ‘salt water’ pool the smaller of which is also heated in the Spring and Autumn. Wicker chairs and seagrass matting, American fridges and each house has it’s own garden with Lavender, rosemary, wisteria, fruit trees and lawns.

www.summerinprovence.co.uk

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

20 | Cycling World

epic climbs spectacular scenery

S

ituated an hour’s drive east of Grenoble, La Grave and Villar d’Arène offer calm and beautiful surroundings at the foot of the mythical mountain passes col du Lautaret and col du Galibier, classics on the Tour de France program. This year the Col du Galibier (altitude 8678 feet) concludes the 17th stage of the Tour on the 19th of July.

Thanks to its magnificent setting and authentic atmosphere, La Grave is counted among the most beautiful villages in France. The majestic peak La Meije (13068 feet) dominates the picture. At its feet the valley opens up on a breathtaking scenery with high peaks and glaciers on one side, and on the other, lush green hillsides and stone-built hamlets surrounded by terraced fields filled with alpine flowers. And in the middle, the winding road leading up to the cols.

After a warm up run on the panoramic road to the hamlets above La Grave, it is time to challenge yourself on the Tour classics and the route of the legendary road cycling sportive La Marmotte. The quiet villages of La Grave and Villar d’Arène are perfect for a break with a view after an unforgettable climb. You will find several bike-friendly hotels and guest houses that provide storage, advice and other services, as well as sports shops where you can rent a bike or an e-bike, or get yours repaired.

The Tourist Office of La Grave La Meije and Villar d’Arène.

Contact us on 00 33 (0)4 76 79 90 05 or ot@lagrave-lameije.com.

lagrave-lameije.com

otlagrave

@otlagrave

March 2017| 21 L’ÉTAPE GRAND DÉPART: RIDE LIKE A PRO Sunday 26 June: RIDE LE MONT-SAINT-MICHEL > UTAH BEACH This year, Amaury Sport Organisation (or A.S.O., organizer 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.

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.

22 | Cycling World

Abbaye de la Bussière www.abbayedelabussiere.fr

B

urgundy is a cyclist's heaven and one of the top destinations for many bike tour companies. Whether it's cycling along the vast network of canal towpaths, taking the back roads through some of the world's most famous vineyards, heading up into the hills of the Auxois to take in beautiful medieval villages such as Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, or heading across to the challenging terrains of the Morvan, there's something for everyone.

Nestling in the heart of it all, between Dijon and Beaune and on the doorstep of the Burgundy Canal, is English-owned Abbaye de la Bussière.

+33 3 80 49 02 29

The Cummings family, former owners of award-winning Amberley Castle in W. Sussex, acquired this 12th century, Cistercian abbey in 2005 to create a sumptuous country house hotel with 2 restaurants.

Entering the Abbaye's 17 acre park, past the lake and up to the main building is like being transported into another time. A luxuriant haven of peace and tranquillity awaits and whilst the monks have long gone, the feeling of spiritual well-being is everpresent.

Today, the Relais & Châteaux Abbaye houses 20 luxurious bedrooms and suites, all with whirlpool baths and

beautiful views over the grounds. The 2 restaurants, the Bistrot des Moines and the Michelin-starred, gastronomic 1131 are orchestrated by awardwinning chef Guillaume Royer.

The Abbaye has just been named one of the top 50 destinations in France in the Times and in 2011, one of the top 50 hotels in the world in the Daily Telegraph.

It will make a great base for stage 7 of the Tour de France on 7th July this year, when the arrival is less than half an hour away at Nuits Saint Georges.

The Abbaye has its own high quality bikes available for use by clients.

info@abbayedelabussiere.fr

March 2017| 23

Book Review

Le Tour Race Log Author Claire Beaumont Publisher Laurence King Date 2/5/16 Format Paperback Pages 128 ISBN 9781856699860 Price £12.95 Review by 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.

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.

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.

24 | Cycling World

Book Review

Tour de France Legendary Climbs

March 2017| 25

26 | Cycling World

Author: Richard Abraham Published: Carlton Books, June 2016 Price: £25, Hardback ISBN: 9781780977904 Reviewer: 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.

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.

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.

March 2017| 27

28 | Cycling World

March 2017| 29

Photo: Sweetspot

Photo: Sweetspot

30 | Cycling World

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

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

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.

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.

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."

March 2017| 31

32 | Cycling World 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. 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 longheld 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.

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.

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

March 2017| 33

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Ideally located, an hour and a half away from Turin International Airport which you can fly to in no time from the UK, Serre Chevalier Briançon is also easily accessible whether you're coming from Provence or the Northern Alps.

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34 | Cycling World

Ferme Noemie (Bourg d’'Oisans)

a unique cycling venue at the heart of alpine cycling mecca.

We are unique in as much we are able to offer accommodation to suit all budgets, offering you the choice of camping emplacements with or without electricity, Camping for Softies furnished tents, mobile homes and apartments.

We are on hand (GB and French speaking) to offer as much or as little assistance as you require enabling you to get the most out of your stay.

Ferme Noemie is a flat ride of 4.5kms to the little town of Bourg d’Oisans. We are ideally placed to ride the Galibier, Alpe d’Huez and the Sarenne, the Croix de Fer and the Glandon, the Col d’Ornon and much more.

For downhill bikers there is a free bus shuttle from Allemont (4km flat ride Ferme Noemie to Allemont) to the nearest lift in Oz which runs throughout the July and August period.

We are also well placed for the Alpe d’Huez triathlon (swim start is 4 kms in Allemont), La Marmotte and even the Tour

de France this year is coming past the end of our road!

Freshly baked bread, croissants, pain au chocolats can be delivered daily to your door (even if you are staying in the smallest of tents!).

Away from the traffic and noise in town, Ferme Noemie is a perfect haven of peace and quiet, surrounded by the most stunning views to sit and enjoy whilst sipping a nice cool rehydration bottle (of beer)! Lots of safe private parking and most importantly a lock up bike store are available. Many of our guests are cyclists so meeting people if you are travelling alone in not a problem, there is always someone to talk to.

Travelling with a non riding partner or kids? Not a problem. Two local pools, a pleasant bike ride away in Allemont or Bourg or a few minutes in the car. Horse riding locally, beautiful walks, easy bike rides for families. www.fermenoemie.com

March 2017| 35 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, 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.

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.

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.

36 | Cycling World

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March 2017| 37

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38 | Cycling World

AMATEURS TACKLE THE

Tour de France

I

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.

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.

“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

March 2017| 39

40 | Cycling World 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 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.

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

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.

Accommodation in Provence

S

ince our first season in 2009 we have accommodated numerous cyclists who I have envied for their passion for the sport. However in 2015 one guest in particular led to a challenge for me to cycle up Mont Ventoux by September 2016. Buying a modest road bike from Decathlon, ( I last rode when I was a teenager) I started training in March and after about a month I began to enjoy my gradual progress and equally the stunning scenery that we are surrounded by. Although we have hiked regularly there is something different being alone on the bike taking in the stunning views.

By June I made my first assault on Mont Ventoux from Sault.

In August I rode from home passing through the lavender fields to Sault and again to the summit a round trip of 105 kilometres with 2450 metres of climbing. In September I joined some guests to make the harder assents from Malaucene and the famous Bedoin, the chosen route of the Tour de France.

The beauty of our area is that you are so well located to head south into the Luberon, north to Ventoux and the Gorge de la Nesque, west towards St Remy and in the east the Monts du Vaucluse. There is something for all levels of fitness from the vélo route stretching 37 kilomètres

along the Calavon valley to Mont Ventoux at 1918 metres.

After cycling 2800 kilometres it's fair to say I'm now pretty hooked on the sport and will be restarting my training in March for further challenges and Ventoux attempts, maybe even the 'Les Cingles', which involves climbing all three routes in 24 hours. As well as the improved fitness, the pleasure I have had from seeing the scenery and how it changes through the seasons is immeasurable .

One trend we have noticed among our guests is the number of cycling widows! Due to our location within walking distance of the village the non cyclist can easily fill their day exploring locally or just lazing with a good book poolside!

Our gite accommodation is for adults only, catering for 2 to 6 people whilst our family house with it's private pool can also cater for six including children.

We have secure cycle storage, cleaning and maintenance equipment, maps etc and can arrange excellent cycle hire for reasonable cost.

For further information look at our website and remember all guests booking from Cycling world magazine receive a 10% discount.

Relax in the Luberon, Provence www.accommodationinprovence.com

March 2017| 41

42 | Cycling World

Scotland: MTB in Glasgow With the Tour of Britain starting in Glasgow on Sunday 4 September we feature the Glasgow MTB Waterways Loop, courtesy of a New Cicerone Guide

Start/Finish

Boer War Memorial, Kelvingrove Park NS 572 665

Distance

54km (33ó miles); variant: 50.5km (31ó miles)

On road

8km (5 miles); variant: 6.5km (4 miles)

Off road

46km (28ó miles); variant: 44km (27ó miles)

Ascent

748m (2455ft); variant: 686m (2250ft)

Grade

Medium

Time

3ó–4óhrs

Maps

OS Explorer 342 Glasgow, 348 Campsie Fells;

OS

Landranger 64 Glasgow

Pub

Blane Valley Inn, Blanefield

Café

Cafe Barga, Lennoxtown

T

he NCR 756 follows the Kelvin Walkway northwest from Glasgow city centre alongside the eponymous river, winding its way between wooded embankments to cross the A81 by the West of Scotland Science Park. The Kelvin is rejoined on the edge of a housing estate, although it soon gains a more rural feel. The Kelvin is left behind and after a brief road section the Allander Walkway is followed into Milngavie. The route then heads north along the WHW through Mugdock Country Park and past Carbeth before descending into Strath Blane. From here the route turns east beneath the mighty escarpment of the Campsie Fells to Strathblane. (An alternative, shorter route between Carbeth and Strathblane is also described.) The Strathkelvin Railway Path is followed from Strathblane to Lennoxtown alongside the Pow Burn and the Glazert Water before the route strikes out across country, climbing over Blairskaith Muir on narrow lanes. A long descent along metalled tracks, rugged paths, winding lanes and surfaced trails delivers you to Cadder on the Forth and Clyde Canal for the ride back into Glasgow to rejoin the Kelvin Walkway by Maryhill Locks, where the outward route is rejoined.

Directions

1

. Follow the Kelvin Walkway as it wiggles its way alongside the River Kelvin, following signs for Milngavie. After 5km the walkway climbs towards the Maryhill Road, but turn sharp left on a tarmacked track through woods. Follow the track for 500m to arrive at a road then turn right to follow it through the West of Scotland Science Park. At a T-junction turn right, exit the Science Park and continue straight over the roundabout on the A81 Maryhill Road. Take the RH fork at a mini-roundabout to continue along Acre Road. Keep straight onto a tarmacked footpath then turn left after 300m onto a small path (no signpost), which leads back to the Kelvin.

2

. Follow the riverbank NE on a singletrack path (sometimes muddy and/or overgrown), soon emerging from the trees as the river winds its way through open countryside. After 2km the path reaches the A879. Leave the riverside path as the next section is largely unrideable. Turn left and stick to the pavement along the roadside for 1.25km, turning first left off a roundabout (stay on the grass verge) before crossing with care where a road bridge crosses the Allander Water.

March 2017| 43

3

. Continue along the pavement for 150m then turn right around a gate and continue along an embankment a short way. Go through a gate and turn left to continue along the Allander Walkway riverside path. Cross a footbridge to the opposite bank before crossing back and continuing until the A81 is reached on the outskirts of Milngavie. Turn left under the railway bridge then cross the road and follow the path uphill (Allander Way signpost) and continue to traffic lights at a junction. Turn right onto the B8030 and continue for 500m to another set of traffic lights at a junction. Turn left onto Ellangowan Road and follow it round to a paved area on the left with a WHW sign; leave the road here to join the WHW.

4

. Follow signs for Mugdock and the WHW, keep SA at a path junction, pass under a footbridge and keep straight on where a path bears left to the library. The path continues through woods then emerges by a bridge over the Allander Water right; bear and continue alongside the burn (watch out for dog walkers), soon looking out for a signpost on the right where the WHW climbs suddenly and steeply away from the river. At the top of the climb turn left at a T-junction, following the WHW. The path broadens and continues through Mugdock Wood.

5

. Pass around a metal barrier onto a road; turn left then jink right again on the WHW. Continue along the metalled track, skirting Scroggy Hill and soon passing to the left of Craigallian Loch. At a fork bear right, descending then climbing a little past a collection of the Carbeth Huts (wood cabins used as weekend retreats).

6

. Go through another gate, descend a short way then turn left at a path junction, continuing past the west side of the wooded knoll of Dumgoyach. The path descends, swings right then climbs to a gate. Go through and follow a track to the right of the path. Cross the Blane Water and keep straight on (leaving the WHW) to a T-junction. Turn right along the A81 or 1km before turning left onto an unsignposted farm road. Head towards the farm at Craigbrock, turn sharp left and follow the winding road up to a junction with the ‘Pipe Track’ running beneath the escarpment of the Campsie Fells. Turn right, continue around to Cantywheery, then follow the track straight on for 2km to reach the A81 at Blanefield. Turn left and follow the road for 700m into Strathblane.

7

. Turn left off the mini-roundabout onto the A891 (signposted Campsie Glen, Lennoxtown), then after 150m turn right off the road onto a narrow lane

(signposted Strathkelvin Railway Path: 755). Continue along the lane and cross a bridge to join the surfaced path alongside the Pow Burn. After 5km, jink right at a path junction (signposted Strathkelvin Railway Path: 755), cross a footbridge and arrive at a road. Turn left a short way then cross over (755 sign) to continue by the river on a surfaced path through woods. At a path junction, turn left then right to follow the Strathkelvin Railway Path alongside Glazert Water. Pass under a road bridge, re-cross the river on a footbridge and arrive at a road 300m further on.

8

. Turn right (signposted Lennox Forest, Balmore) along the track road then fork right after 600m onto a loose stone track climbing through Finniescroft Wood. At the T-junction with South Brae Road, turn left (signposted Balmore) and continue, soon climbing steeply. The gradient eventually levels and enters Lennox Forest. The public road runs out at a parking area near a communications tower. Keep straight on (signposted Balmore 3.) around a barrier onto a forestry road. After 400m turn left and descend along a forestry track; where it swings left keep straight on onto a path (this I easy to miss), which soon leaves the forestry via a stile, swings right and contours around to another stile. Go over and descend steeply on the Mealybrae Road – a narrow, bouldery path, which makes an entertaining descent. Keep straight on downhill and the track soon rejoins tarmac.

9

. Keep straight on at a junction then straight on (right) at a fork and follow the winding road down to Balmore, continuing through the village to a junction with the A807. Jink left then right onto residential Old Balmore Road, then after 250m turn right onto a surfaced track between fields (signposted Canal, Bishopbriggs). Turn left then right to cross the River Kelvin on a footbridge and continue right (signposted Canal, Bishopbriggs) along a wooded path between golf courses then a track road. Pass the church at Cadder and swing right on the road alongside the Forth and Clyde Canal.

1

0. Continue on the NR754 cycle route along the towpath for 6km before taking a RH fork down off the embankment onto Lochburn Road (signposted Clydebank, Bowling). Go through the tunnel then turn immediately left to climb the path to the embankment. Turn left and continue along the embankment (signposted Clydebank, Bowling), soon passing Maryhill Locks. Look out for a Kelvin Walkway sign and turn left to follow the path in a series of zig-zags down to the river, bearing left to follow the outward route back to the start in Kelvingrove Park.

44 | Cycling World

Glasgowopolis Gordon Cairns takes a futuristic ride along the Clyde to the heat of Glasgow

T

he precinct of Glasgow's media hub could have been created by a cartoonist from the fifties imagining a futuristic metropolis. This unusual cityscape with its rocket-shaped Science Tower across the river and assorted oddly shaped buildings is our starting point to cycle along the banks of the River Clyde, taking us into the city's industrial past. Even reaching it is slightly futuristic, as we cycle through a massive corrugated orange tube which takes us up and over the Exhibition Centre train station then spits us out at the city's newest music venue, the Hydro.

Another curious aspect of the architecture here are the close proximity of the bridges, two footbridges straddle the river within pebble skimming distance of each other and a road bridge just a few hundred metres away. In fact, twenty two bridges cross the river and act as distance markers on the trip I am taking with my 10-year-old son Noah. There are also a couple of tunnels under the river. Does this say something about the citizens of Glasgow, I wonder, never happy with the side of the river they are on.

We head out of the car park of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre on what feels like the first sunny day of the year towards the largest remaining artefact of the city's industrial age, the Finnieston Crane, a 175-ton colossus which was built to load steam engines onto ships to be exported across the world. Now standing out-with its industrial context, it is like a giant toy abandoned by a bored child.

We navigate over the 'Squinty Bridge', so called for the angle it crosses the river and drop back down to the riverside passing the long disused Anderston Quay, now converted into flats, with the Kingston Bridge, the main motorway artery taking traffic south west, looming above. On the other side of the bridge is a section skirting the financial district of the city which has been landscaped in recent years into a wide, ramped section ideal for cycling through stone benches and bollards. Here is another remnant of Glasgow’s past as a starting off point for sea voyages from the city that once built more than half of the World's ships. We pass a group of cycling's illegitimate offspring, a bunch of baggy kids doing stunts on their tiny BMX bikes.

Meanwhile, on the water sits the creaking Renfrew Ferry, a nightclub and live music venue with a carpet of river debris connecting it to the shore. We soon have to dismount and carry our bikes up a set of stairs to get under the George the Fifth Road Bridge which sits alongside the second Caledonian Railway Bridge, an impressive Victorian structure which carries thirteen tracks into Glasgow's Central station and at one point was the widest railway bridge over a river in the country.

The next bridge we pass is my favourite; a Victorian suspension bridge which gently vibrates as you cross

March 2017| 45

TRAINS The bike path can be joined from the west at either the Partick or Exhibition Centre train stations although both can be awkward manhandling bikes! Cost from Glasgow's Central or Queen Street stations are £1.90 return to Partick and £1.60 to the Exhibition Centre. The closest station at the east end of the route is Cambuslang, which can be reached from Central Station. A return costs £3.10.

ROUTE INFO From Partick station turn right and go through the gap between the shopping arcade and the station. Cross Beith Road at the traffic lights, where you will see a signpost marking National Cycle Network Route 7. Turn left, heading towards the city centre. From the Exhibition Centre station, turn right and immediately right again to go through the covered walkway, which crosses the track and Clydeside Expressway. Then, head down towards the waterfront to the find the cycle path. From Cambuslang train station, exit the station onto Main Street and cross the road onto Bridge Street, which leads down to the footbridge crossing the River Clyde onto its north bank. Turn left to cycle back into the city.

46 | Cycling World and was used in the film 'An Englishman Abroad' to replicate Cold War Moscow. On our left hand side is a massive mural of a tiger painted onto a wall: as striking as the black and orange image is, we can't come up with a possible reason how it got there.

We are now not far from ex-professional Billy Bilslands' Cycling shop, and it is worth the slight detour alone to see Robert Millar's polka-dot King of the Mountain's jersey hanging on the wall. Millar gave the jersey he won at the Tour de France in 1984 to his first trainer Bilsland. During last year's Commonwealth Games in the city, this small shop became known across the globe for giving the Malawian cycling team a couple of time trialling bikes after putting their own, less roadworthy, frames into the shop to be repaired. The shop sits on the edge of Glasgow Green, a beautiful sprawling park made famous by revolutionary Glaswegians over the centuries. It is also the base for the Glasgow Rowing Club, and for a stretch we pedal alongside a cox on his bike calling out strokes through a megaphone to the rowers skimming through the peaceful river. This stretch of river in the east of the city has benefitted from the Commonwealth Games immensely, from the Hockey Centre in the park, the Athlete's Village which has been turned into a mixture of social housing, and the Chris Hoy Arena, Glasgow's first velodrome.

I must admit to initially feeling cynical about the games organisers claims that watching world class athletes in their home city would inspire Glaswegians to take up a sport and get fit. After all, we are voracious sporting spectators here in a city full of football stadiums, but are still known as the sick man of Europe. Perhaps because we associate watching sport with either the traditional pie and Bovril or the more modern crisps and hot dogs, not to mention the after-match beer. And yet, the large number of cyclists, joggers and walkers on this newly opened stretch of path through the east of the city show that actually, there has been a very positive legacy effect.

Once past the Commonwealth Games village, the landscape becomes surprisingly rural as the river bank which was previously used by industry is allowed to grow wild. Trees and bushes fringe the path which has been resurfaced. And although I am riding a road bike, I find the ride smooth apart from a few bumps where tree roots have tried to push through.

Below us the river bends back on itself. The path rises up just as it goes under the new M74 motorway bridge as the river rushes across rocks way below us.

There are only a few more bridges to go under before the path finally peters out. We eat our sandwiches sitting at what looks like a disused pumping station covered in graffiti on the edge of the suburb of Carmyle before turning back to the city. With twelve miles in his legs, my son is beginning to feel tired, perhaps because the carrot of the double-chocolate cookie has now been eaten, so we cycle back arm in arm as I try to sling shot him home.

We trundle back through the centre of the city, passing a statue commemorating Spanish Civil War heroine La Passionara and the British members of the International Brigade who went to Spain to fight.

However, her inspirational words carved below the memorial: 'Better to die on your feet than live forever on your knees.' Are not enough to keep him going, and so we curtail our journey at seventeen miles, and instead get a train from the nearby Central Station home.

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Moorfield House Hotel

This This charming charming hotel hotel in in the the heart heart of of the the Cairngorm Cairngorm National National Park Park sits sits in in a a secluded secluded location location within the historic village of Braemar in Royal Deeside.

Surrounded by mountains within the historic village of Braemar in Royal Deeside. Surrounded by mountains the the hotel hotel overlooks the famous Royal Braemar Highland Games Gathering, is 9 miles from Balmoral overlooks the famous Royal Braemar Highland Games Gathering, is 9 miles from Balmoral CastleCastle & 9 miles Ski Centre. is a great for exploring the Cairngorms. & 9 from miles Glenshee from Glenshee.

It is aItgreat base base for exploring the Cairngorms.

Owners Owners Grant Grant & & Maria Maria ensure ensure aa warm warm welcome welcome and and provide provide excellent excellent accommodation in 6 modern en–suite rooms. accommodation in 6 modern en–suite rooms.

A fully licensed restaurant offers a locally sourced and freshly cooked menu which changes on a daily basis. The traditional bar is fully stocked with real ales (CAMRA registered), larger, cider and a large range of malt whisky. Sky & BT sports are available and meals can be served in the bar. The hospitality of the Highlands Is world renowned so no-one remains a stranger for long, the bar is a place to relax with old friends or make new ones after an exhilarating day. There is also a newly installed outside decking area where drinks/meals can be enjoyed (weather permitting) which overlooks the Highland Games park & the garden attracts various wildlife including red squirrel, a wide range of birds, pheasants & ducks. This is also a dog friendly hotel where 4 legged friends are welcome in the bar and can stay with their owners in the dog friendly room.

Free Wi-Fi | Drying room facilities | lockable Bicycle storage | Private parking

www.moorfieldhousehotel.com www.moorfieldhousehotel.com Call Call 013397 013397 41244 41244 or or Make Make aa Reservation Reservation Online Online Now! Now! We We look look forward forward to to welcoming welcoming you you to to the the Moorfield.

Moorfield.

48 | Cycling World

The next generation of tubeless tyres. 70 g lighter. Faster. Safer. Revolutionary new MicroSkin design.

Tubeless Easy. Patent Pending. 23-622 (235g), 25-622 (255g), 28-622 (275g) www.schwalbe.com/pro-one

March 2017| 49

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL OF CYCLING

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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.

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.

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.

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.

2 ||Promotional Feature 50 Cycling World Promotional Feature

A journey through time Discover a small piece of Britain’s historic waterways via this scenic cycle route from Bath to Bradford on Avon.

Bath is recognised as one of the most scenic cities in the world and with a wealth of attractions close by, a bike is the perfect way to get the most out of this great city. Bath & North East Somerset Council has collected some of the area’s best rides together on their web site, including this relaxing route to Bradford on Avon. Full details for all the ride including route descriptions, GPS mapping info and preview videos can be found online at www.bathnes.gov.uk/bathbybike

T

he Kennet & Avon Canal passes through some spectacular landscapes, linking London with the Bristol Channel. Opened in the early 1800s, unfortunately this feat of engineering was soon superseded by the Great Western Railway as a means to move goods around. However, as a flat, easily navigable route the canal these days makes for a perfect cycle journey.

From the centre of Bath, pick up the route onto the Canal at Beckford Road, just after passing over the railway. Quickly leaving the busy road behind, you can admire the numerous canal boats moored beside you as you cycle out towards Bathampton.

After only a few minutes of this pretty, tree lined stretch you forget that you’ve just come from the city centre.

Ten minutes of easy pedalling and you reach The George Inn, but it’s too early to find an excuse to stop just yet so on we go, following the canal as it meanders parallel to the River Avon until we reach Dundas Aqueduct. The path cuts right, up and over the canal via a small bridge. If spending so much time alongside the canal has made you wonder what it’s like to take to the water, the Bath and Dundas Aqueduct Canal Company offers canoe and boat hire from Brassknocker Basin, which is just off our route here.

Bearing left, cross over via the aqueduct and with the canal now on the left it’s another two miles of scenic riding before reaching the next landmark, Avoncliff Aqueduct. At 100 meters long, the aqueduct is considered to be one of the most impressive structures on Britain’s waterways as it takes the canal over the River Avon. There are plenty of opportunities for a picnic on the river bank here, or alternatively you can enjoy the view from the garden at the Cross Guns, which has been an Inn since the early 1600s. From here, it’s less than two miles into Bradford on Avon itself.

Coming into Bradford on Avon we pass a 14th century Tithe Barn, originally owned

by Shaftesbury Abbey, before reaching the Wharf. At one point the busiest Wharf on the canal, it is still possible to see remnants of the past, such as the lock keeper’s house which is now a busy café. The main road will take you into the centre of the town, with its multitude of architectural gems.

Getting home is simply a case of re-tracing the route back to the start or alternatively taking a train back to Bath.

Pay as you go cycling Nextbike is the easy to use cycle hire network which is revolutionising local travel within Bath.

L

ike many cities across the UK, Bath has adopted a Europeanstyle cycle hire network as a means to help people get around more easily. The concept is simple, once registered you can pick up a bike from any of the docking stations located across the city and drop it off at any other. Bath’s scheme, run by Nextbike, has over 100 bikes available for hire from a dozen locations across the city including key destinations such as Bath Spa station and Orange Grove, close to the Abbey. Nextbikes can be hired 24 hours a day, 365 days a year making them ideal for day visits or holidays when you cannot bring your own bike.

A single registration is required before you start using the bikes. To rent a bike, call the hotline number you will find on the bike or use the official smartphone app for Android and iphone. The bike will unlock from the docking station and away you go! When you’re done, simply slot the bike back into any docking station and it will automatically log you off.

Watch our short ‘how to’ videos at www.bit.do/nextbike or for more information about registration and rental charges visit www.nextbike.co.uk

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Top of 2016

52 | Cycling World

Mountain Bike Brands

We asked the experts at Formby Cycles about what bikes performed well in 2016. It should inform our purchases for 2017…

Giant

For the last few years Giant have been at the top of their game; for entry-level mountain bikers or seasoned pros, there’s something for everyone.

The Stance 27.5 has a lightweight ALUXXGrade aluminium frame and full 120mm suspension making it an ideal gateway bike into the world of trail riding that offers great value for money.

Much like the Stance, Giant’s Trance features an ALUZZ-Grade frame but benefits from an OverDrive steer tube and Power Core bottom bracket for greater steering precision and pedalling stiffness suited to enduro rides.

Skilled gravity enduro riders loved Giant’s Reign.

With full, 160mm suspension, the Reign has 6.3 inches of travel and a slacker, 65-degree head angle for reliable, precision, downhill riding.

Giant Stance

Giant Reign

Specialized The Stumpjumper FSR 650 Fattie brought three new components to this trail bike in 2016: a new 650b wheel system with 3.0” tyres for top-notch traction, flotation and control; a 9m carbon-fibre FACT frame that’s strong, stiff and lightweight; and a SWAT door in the downtube for stowing a spare tube, tool and pump.

Some downhill bikes simply cannot be improved.

Don’t believe us? Try the World Cup winning Specialized Demo 8. The asymmetrical FACT frame and 650b wheels are paired with 200mm FSR suspension and S3 GH geometry for superb traction, manoeuvrability and responsive rider control.

With bikes that take care of the terrain, you need accessories that take care of you. Specialized Dissident full-face helmets are ventilated, lightweight and feature the most advanced carbon fibre protection available, plus they’re compatible with speakers, helmet EJECT™ and Leatt™ brace systems.

Specialized MTB

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Whyte Entry-level mountain bikers found the T-130 offered great value for money. With 130mm travel on 650b wheels and a Shimano SLX/XT 20 Speed Drivetrain, this bike is available in extra small to large frame sizes so any rider can get on board and get biking.

Improving on the award-winning 905, the 905 RS features a SRAM 1x11 Groupset, RockShox Yari Fork and KS Dropper Post to make it one awesome Hardtail trail bike that’s perfect for taking on the British terrain.

Ridden by Whyte’s own gravity enduro race team, the G-160 Works mountain bike has it all.

Featuring a SRAM XX1, 1x11 Drivetrain and Boost 148mm rear and 110mm front hubs that are matched with the RockShox Pike Fork and Monarch Air Shocks DebonAir air can, this bike has stiffer wheels and superior suspension for unbeatable enduro and cross country riding.

Whyte T130

Santa Cruz Revised, refined and ready for riding, the infamous, award-winning V10 featuring a full carbon frame with C and CC options, adjustable geometry, VPP suspension system and 27.5” wheels, is one of the best DH bikes there is.

Also refined for 2016 was the Bronson C. Now featuring the new VPP Suspension link system which improves lateral stiffness, the RockShox Pike RCT3 150 Solo Air Forksteeper for greater sensitivity, and newly enhanced seat and slacker head tube positioning, this is the bike for riders who want rally-ready geometry and incredible handling.

The Chameleon also saw some refinements made with upgrades that include RockShox Stealth Reverb routing, 142mm rear axle spacing and 27.5” wheels which improve performance without compromising its impressive hardtail geometry.

Santa Cruz MTB

Cannondale Love Enduro and XC riding? Then you need the Cannondale Trigger. With the lightweight LEFTY fork for control and precision and DYAD RT2 Attitude Adjust shocks, you can switch from shorttravel elevate mode to long-travel flow in an instant, making this the ultimate OverMountain bike.

With an alloy frame and 27+ wheels, the new Beast of the East MTB is designed to make any ride first and foremost, fun. Featuring a slack angle head, short chainstays and Lefty 2.0 fork for improved suspension and shock absorption, this bike makes it possible to take on the most challenging terrains and nail them.

Cannondale Trigger

Addicted to mountain biking? Then you need a Habit! With lightweight carbon shock links, zero-pivot seatstays for more responsive suspension and lateral stiffness, 760mm bars and shorty stems this do-it-all trailbike is available in three frame options: the full BallisTec carbon, the full Smart Formed Alloy, or the combined BallisTec Carbon front and Smart Formed rear.

54 | Cycling World

PRODUCT

TOURING Aquapac Handlebar Phone Case £50 This case is very useful if you mount your phone on the handlebars as a navigation aid. Waterproof rating is submersible (no need to test!) and 100% PVC-free. It is made of a special TPU which is thin enough to use your touchscreen, but still impressively strong. The seams are well-bonded and the seal opens and closes with a quick twist of two levers, staying in one piece even when it’s open.

Comes with easy handlebar mount in nylon and stainless steel. Two sizes- mini and small- with a good online size www.aquapac.net

Blackburn’s Grid 13 Multitool £17.99 With thirteen functions, the tool designs have been carefully thought out with consideration to selection, length, and placement so the right tool is easily accessible for your biking escapades. Robust and pocket size, worth carrying with you at all times

Features Include: • • • • • • •

“L” Bend to get into tight places 4.mm hex 2.5mm hex 1.5mm hex 3mm hex 5mm hex 6mm hex

• • • • • • •

8mm hex Flathead screwdrivers T30 Torx T25 Torx Disc pad spreader Presta core remover Bonus: Bottle opener

www.blackburndesign.com

Gorilla Bottle Cage and Clip: Cage £24.95, Clip £12.95

Cycling World

it’s even more versatile than that. The clip can attach to any

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Gorilla cage that can carry just about anything light and bulky, for example a large bottle, a light weight tent, a sleeping mat, or your cooking system. The clip is also compatible with Monkii carry systems, which include bottle holders and frame bags. Made from Max load is 1.5kg and load size is 40cm x 25cm. www.cyclemiles.co.uk

March 2017| 55

Sealskin Road Ankle £35 road cycling and incorporates Hydrostop technology. It is highly waterproof, windproof and breathable made from Stretchdry fabric. neck and the Marino wool lining gives warmth and comfort. There is an instep for added support and comfort. Nothing like keeping those feet warm and dry. www.sealskinz.com

Shower Pass Syncline Jacket £99 Named after a popular mountain bike trail in the Columbia River Gorge, the Syncline is not just for biking; it can be used for hiking, camping, and walking in the rain. Made with fully seam-taped Artex Hardshell 2.5-layer waterproofsized back pocket. It has kept us dry and comfortable,

and front pockets. www.showerspass.com

WaterWipes: £2.99 (pack of 60)

Each wipe is large, thick and extremely watery, so you feel like you have had a real wash and no synthetic fragrance or oily residue remains. Free from alcohol, fragrance and lanolin, which can irritate some, they’re the only wipe to be endorsed

by Allergy UK. The only problem is that the wife has taken them to use on the kids I have to use up all the chemical ones. www.waterwipes.com

GB Special

Originally developed to care for babies’ skin these wipes are a cycle touring essential for freshening up on the go.

They contain just two ingredients: 99.9%

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56 | Cycling World

RAB Bike Review

Light Blue Robinson £1400 Did I appreciate a steel bike! Maybe I wasn’t the fastest up the hills, but as the week went on I was enjoying comfort while others were complaining of lower back pain

C

omfort is what you want with nine long days in the saddle and the Robinson offers just that. In various sizes, I rode a bike to fit me and the combination of Reynolds Steel 731 and sports geometry created the perfect mix of liveliness and long-haul body wellbeing. The geometry includes a sloping top tube design permitting more seat post and thus more comfort. Sprightliness is also designed in, the custom Bi-Oval down tube reduces lateral flex in the bottom bracket therefore allowing better power transmission. I really noticed this when riding in groups where everyone else was on carbon; I kept my place and by the end of the week I was one of the stronger climbers with a more-nurtured lower back.

On the subject of group riding, I often found myself at the front, the best place to be when you are one of the few with mudguards. Although it didn’t rain, we often started on wet roads, and why people ride without mudguards during an event that is all about teamwork is a mystery to me. The Robinson offers ample clearance and multiple mudguard mount bosses to allow various fitting options. The frame also gives clearance for wider tyres. I happily used 28c, the right choice for a route that sometimes included bridleways, fire roads and gravel tracks, not to mention the neglected trunk roads of Scotland.

It was not only wider tyres that contributed to the reassuring feeling of stability, necessary when often riding completely exhausted. It’s the first time I’ve used disc brakes on a road bike; certainly welcomed on gravely descents when riding in large groups. Lightweight butted Cr-Mo highly stable D section straight fork blades allow for disc brakes, which come as standard, though it can be built with caliper brakes.

Build options include a variety of Shimano and SRAM varieties; I plumped for Shimano 105. As my own bikes are a few years old, I find myself so impressed by the quality of the current Shimano 105 group set, it just gets better every year.

My compact front and 11-28 rear served me well through the most challenging of climbs; it made Cheddar Gorge a piece of cake (sounds like a well-deserved high tea!) Interestingly, the switchable alloy dropouts allow geared or single speed set ups. Additionally, rear hub spacing also gives options; 130 or 135mm and 142mm if Thru Axle is required.

The Robinson is attractive and well thought-out. Neatness is considered with bolt-in under top-tube cable guides and down-tube shifter bosses. The bike keeps up its fine appearance with corrosion resistant black ED coated base finish.

When riding in such style, it’s got to sound good too: a reliable 1 1/8” threadless headset and creak free 68mm BSA threaded bottom bracket contribute to the symphony of silence.

The Robinson is the perfect partner for multiday riding, especially for the rider that likes to take care of him/herself. With threaded M5 rack mounts on seat stays, it’s also ideal for light touring.

March 2017| 57

58 | Cycling World

Build Options:

* Robinson 22RD Shimano 105 5800 * Robinson 22RD SRAM Rival * Robinson D Shimano Sora * Robinson D SRAM Apex * Robinson D 1x Rival

Robinson Spec-Shimano 105 Frame Tig welded Reynolds 731 Steel Cassette Shimano 105 5800 11spd (11-28) Chainset Shimano 105 5800 (50/34) Wheels Halo Devaura D 700c 24 Tyres Schwalbe Durano 28c Handlebars Genetic Flare Stem Genetic SLR Groupset Shimano 105 5800 Brakes Avid BB7 Disc Brakes Saddle Gusset Black Jack Seatpost Genetic Syngenic Mudguards Full length Light Blue specific Colours Volcano Orange or Airforce Blue Weight 10.35kg/22.77 lbs (56cm) Sizes 50/53/56/59/62cm

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60 | Cycling World

Good Friday

Track Cycling’s Iconic Event

T

he Good Friday Meeting, one of the most iconic track cycling competitions in the calendar, returns to the Lee Valley VeloPark on Friday 25th March 2016.

With over 100 years of history, The Good Friday meeting is the oldest track cycling event in Britain and pre-dates the Tour de France. The world famous meeting was conceived in January 1903 when a small group of enthusiasts persuaded their sceptical colleagues of the Southern Counties Cycling Union that they should promote a meeting at Herne Hill on the coming Good Friday. A guarantee fund was set up but with the meeting turning out an unqualified success this was not required, in fact a useful profit was made. The track was booked for following year and the almost unbroken series of meetings has continued to the present day.

Up until last year, The Good Friday Meeting has been held at the Herne Hill Velodrome, one of the oldest cycling tracks in the world having been built in 1891; however, it was decided in 2015 that an indoor arena was acquired for this prestigious event to prevent the meeting from being weather permitted. Thus, the famous Lee Valley VeloPark, home of the record breaking track cycling team that conquered the 2012 Olympics is now the its new venue.

The meeting attracts some of the world’s best riders and will be one the few opportunities to see Team GB riders in action on home soil ahead of this year’s Olympics.

As the only Open event within British track cycling, The Good Friday meeting enables fans, amateurs, professionals and legends of cycling to compete together for one day only.

Legends of cycling have plied their trade at The Good Friday meeting for decades; it is an icon within British Cycling History. In the past it has seen the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Jody Cundy, Andy Tennant and Ed Clancy compete, and with the Olympics looming only months away from the event, be sure to find some of the best British talent riding and perhaps even a few Olympic names.

For further information visit: www.thegoodfridaymeeting.co.uk

March 2017| 61

The Perfect Scottish Retreat

ad

The Mill of Dess Lodge, Aboyne The stunning and luxurious Mill of Dess Lodge on the river Dee is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a hard day cycling in the glorious countryside of Aberdeenshire. The estate lies on the north bank of the river with uninterrupted views of the Forest of Birse. The setting is secluded, private and totally unspoilt.

The Lodge is a new and top-end addition to the accommodation portfolio of Royal Deeside and offers 9 super-king bedrooms each with a private bathroom, Sky TV, room safe, complimentary bathroom products, the ultimate in fluffy white robes and free Wi-Fi. Any bedroom can be made up as twin or double beds to suit individual preference. All bedding is allergy and dust mite free and each room has a range of soft and firm pillows to meet those individual “Princess and the Pea” needs. There is a generous supply of white towels with an impossibly high GSM rating and lashings of hot water There is a peaceful and comfortable sitting room and a breath-taking dining room. Guests will find that the small but important practical details have been well attended to with the provision of a large drying room and secure cycle/equipment storage.

The Lodge is fully catered and staffed. We are happy to accommodate any dietary requirements and such prerequisites can be discussed and planned in advance of your stay.

Reservations are available on a Bed & Breakfast or Exclusive Use basis.

See what previous guests have said:

“Welcoming” “Relaxing” “Comfortable” “Warm” “Spacious” “Delightful Manager” “Food out of this world” ** Bespoke offer to readers of Cycling World ** Single occupancy rate £90 per night Double occupancy rate £140 per night Price includes breakfast, a two course supper & vat Minimum 2 night stay To check availability or to make your reservation, please contact Antonia McKinley

01763 264249 antonia@lowerdessestate.com www.lowerdessestate.com

62 | Cycling World

FANCY TAKING A RIDE UP HERE? OR HOW ABOUT ALPE D’HUEZ? Or the Croix de Fer? Maybe the Glandon, Telegraphe, Madeleine, Lautaret.....

ad CYCLING ASCENTS www.cyclingascents.com

www.facebook.com/cyclingascents

Guided rides to Tour de France legends such as the Col du Galibier, Alpe D'Huez, Col de la Croix de Fer and more from our conveniently located luxury B&B accommodation in Bourg D'Oisans.

Glamping Holidays on the Isle of Wight Just off the Round the Island Cycle Route

www.tomsecolodge.com

stay@tapnellfarm.com / (01983) 758729 Tapnell Farm, Newport Rd, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, PO41 0YJ

March 2017| 63

Chasing the Sunrise

- A Snapshot of the World

I

n March 2016 a team of two mountain bikers are embarking on the Chasing the Sunrise expedition. Gavin and Shaun, both skilled cyclists, mountaineers and passionate photographers, are setting out on an incredible Seven Summits journey, possibly a world first, by pedal power and unsupported.

The pair are setting out to document first-hand the landscape and culture across the planet whilst journeying to attempt seven major summits along the way. A bespoke journey of over 38,000miles, taking them through some of the most remote and least visited parts of the globe, hopes to raise awareness of conservation and climate change.

Taking in many of the planets highest mountains, the duo will be travelling across the globe where they will be leaving the asphalt behind. With the skills and tools to access and document life far into the wilderness, the expedition aims to educate and inspire both along the way and back home in the developed world.

Through careful and thoughtful use, the camera offers a valuable tool for educating and raising awareness. In the mountains and from the saddle, viewpoints far beyond what others are able to appreciate, Gavin and Shaun, with a mutual love of mountains and cycling, and with the skills to go far beyond the comfort of the developed countries, are taking the challenge of carefully recording a passionate and genuine image of the world along the way.

Chasing The Sunrise is setting out to promote the awareness of conservation and climate change, whilst supporting education across the world.

Back home the expedition is raising money to support the conservation work of the WWF with a notable target of ÂŁ100,000 of fundraising.

The expedition is online at www.ChasingTheSunrise.org or follow their journey to see the world @chasingthesunrise on Instagram, Flickr, Twitter and Facebook.

64 | Cycling World

London UCI Track Cycling World Championships London is gearing up to host what will be the biggest UCI Track Cycling World Championships in the modern era. Organisers have revealed over 50,000 tickets have been sold for the event taking place between 2-6 March at the Lee Valley VeloPark, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Founded in 1893, the prestigious competition has been the annual pinnacle for competitive track cyclists from all over the globe. Now returning to the UK for the first time in eight years, the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships will see the world’s best cyclists descend on the capital as they compete for the coveted world champion rainbow jerseys.

Spectators at Lee Valley VeloPark can expect five days of exciting racing with UCI World Champions being crowned in seven of the twelve sessions. Some of the highlights include: • Wednesday 2nd: The men’s and women’s team sprints plus the women’s individual pursuit, in which Joanna Rowsell Shand won gold in 2014.

• Saturday 5th: The prize fighters of the men’s team sprint clash with fans hoping to see Jason Kenny win his first rainbow jersey since 2013.

• Thursday 3rd: Four world titles will be up for grabs, with Sir Bradley Wiggins expected to ride in the men’s team pursuit.

• Sunday 6th: Laura Trott will be aiming to win her second world title in the women’s omnium, while the Madison, won by Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish the last time the UCI World Championships were in Britain, will round off an amazing week’s racing.

• Friday 4th: Four more golds to be decided with Britain’s women’s team pursuiters looking to hit back at the world-record breaking Australians.

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Having won silver in the women’s team pursuit and omnium at the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, Laura Trott will be hoping to go one better and match her performance at Melbourne 2012 when she claimed rainbow jerseys in both events.

Trott said: “This year’s UCI Track Cycling World Championships will be spectacular. It would be amazing to compete in my home city and with the backing of so many fans.

“I’m 100% focussed on making the team and winning gold in the omnium and women’s pursuit. It would be the perfect way to start what is hopefully going to be a fantastic year.”

Legacy Programme Announced

The organisers of the event have announced a £200,000 legacy programme to bring cycling to local schools and hard-to-reach communities and get East London pedalling towards improved fitness.

The inclusive programme, which is funded by Sport England through the Major Events Engagement Fund and provided by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority in conjunction with British Cycling, London Sport and London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), aims to encourage people of all ages to take the first steps towards an active, healthier lifestyle.

The legacy programme rides on the back of the world championships and aims to maximise the opportunity that this major sporting event provides for increasing activity in cycling. The sport will be made more accessible to disability groups, young people, older residents and community groups in the Boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Key components include: • A targeted approach to increasing the number of young people in the sport with the Cycling Ambassador Programme.

• Development of the next generation of track stars with the appointment of a qualified British Cycling Go-Ride coach.

• Partnerships with local health providers and a wide range of activities aimed at improving general fitness via Cycling for Health.

• Investment in adapted cycles and sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark for people with disabilities.

• Tickets for the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships provided for participants in the legacy programmes.

Research has shown that communities around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park are some of the least active in London with 46.8% of adults inactive, compared with 43.9% for London. The inspiration and focus of a world-

class cycling event in the heart of East London will be harnessed with a programme that aims to leave a lasting legacy of sports participation and improved health to those residents.

Jonny Clay, Cycle Sport and Membership Director at British Cycling said, “We are sure that the legacy programme will be a tremendous success and a valuable source of advice and knowledge for the growing numbers of people who want to take part in the sport.

“Ensuring a participation legacy is a key part of British Cycling’s major events strategy. That is to say, we judge the value of events on their capacity to inspire people to get more active by getting on their bikes more often.”

Cycling is an excellent activity for improving general fitness and for providing a focus for social activity.

Many people are set to benefit from the inclusive programme with targeted recruitment through community groups, GPs and primary care as the start of the pathway into cycling. In partnership with Bikeworks and Lee Valley VeloPark, residents of all ages and abilities will be able to access a wide range of bicycles including recumbent, tricycles and traditional two wheelers. The thrill of cycling is fully accessible at the Lee Valley VeloPark with a pool of specially adapted bikes for those with disabilities, part of their ‘disability cycling hub’.

66 | Cycling World

Film Review

FAST FRIDAY Director David Rowe Produced 2008 Duration 42 mins Certificate No certificate.

Suggested 10+ Available at: fastfridaymovie.com Free to view, DVD with bonus features $US 10

March 2017| 67

F

ast Friday is a documentary about track bikes in the city of Seattle and the culture that has grown up around them.

The director gives an insight into his motivation behind the film: “In November 2006 I quit my job as a bellman to begin shooting a documentary I wanted to do on the Seattle hip hop scene. Then a friend of mine told me about a monthly event called “Fast Friday,” he suggested I bring my camera and shoot it.

I showed up, lights and camera in hand, not knowing what to expect or for what purpose this footage would be used. A year and 10 “Fast Fridays” later, I’m in Tokyo to attend the premiere screening of my documentary at the Bicycle Film Festival.

"I shot three "Fast Fridays" before I decide to make the documentary, I was running out of money and needed to make a decision between moving to LA or getting another job in Seattle and completing the movie, obviously I chose the latter. Since I already had three “Fast Fridays” in the can I decided to continue filming in the same manner for the rest of them, as a participant. I wanted the viewer to feel as if they were sharing the experience with the riders on screen.”

Outdoor track cycling on fixed wheel bikes was first introduced underground in San Francisco, California in 2006 and Dustin Klein, a bike messenger and protagonist, took the idea to Seattle together with his idea for urban cycle clothing. This film is possibly a precursor to films produced by British riders such as Martyn Ashton and Danny Macaskill who showcase their incredible riding skills on a road bike and a trials bike.

The documentary is a testament to the riders’ abilities. The opening scene interviews some of the key ompetitors in the film’s culminating Fast Friday race, some with track backgrounds and many of whom have travelled from all over the country. Interestingly, we are introduced to riders, the tricks they can perform and their pleasure in riding bikes with fixed gears and no brakes. It is all about pushing their skills but at the same time having fun.

One of the key events is the Cadence Classic where in January the competition is a trackstand, in February it’s a quick stop competition and the main race – an alley cat race takes place in March. One particular guy Keo is interviewed as the winner of the Cadence Classic and he explains that riding bikes has saved him from a life of guns and shootings.

There is joyous sense of community throughout, encouraging people to ride fixed wheel bikes for commuting and not just racing. There is a feeling that it binds everybody together through winter. Coupled with a certain degree of madness these guys are like the skateboarders of the 70s with their gung-ho and fearless attitude. It left me with the reassuring feeling that anything is possible on a bike.

68 | Cycling World

Author: Camille J. McMillan Publisher: Velodrome Publishing Published: Hardback 30/06/2016 ISBN: 9781911162032 Price: £30 Review by: David Robert

Cycling World

All Photographs © Camille J McMillan

56

The Peloton at TdeB

March 2017| 69

S T E G T I S A H G AS TOU

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70 | Cycling World

Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat.

It’s good to get away and see somewhere new. And when you’ve finished a long ride, exploring new places, it’s good to have a little bit of comfort; a cold drink, a hot drink, a microwave, gas hobs, running water, a sofa, double beds with mattresses. The things we take for granted in our own homes. The 6-berth OPUS® Camper Trailer can offer you all of those comforts, plus a whole lot more, including the ability to carry up to 6 cycles on it’s roof. OPUS® takes care of the simple things, leaving you more time to concentrate on your routes.

Start planning your next route today with OPUS®

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Book Review

March 2017| 71

Circus: Inside the World of Professional Bike Racing

T

his beautifully-produced book reveals some of the many stories career cycling photographer Camille Mcmillan has witnessed. It is an exclusive anthology, with many never seen images, spanning two decades of life at the sharp end of professional cycling.

It takes the shape of an entire year in the saddle from the Spring Classics, through Grand Tours to the World Championships. Viewpoints are often at the hub of the action: trackside at Ghent’s Six-Day races; across the unforgiving cobbles of Monuments, amongst the crazed roadside fans of the Tour. Similarly, we see behind the scenes, beyond the gloss and glamour: exhaustion within hotel rooms; changing behind vans, battling the elements in the dusty heat of Kansas or the drenching hills of North England. Some glorious photos of the Tour of Britain are featured here.

Camille has pedigree as both a cyclist and an image maker. A graduate from St. Martin’s Art College, former editor-at-large of Rouleur magazine, he was also a bike racer, competing as a junior in the UK and Europe. Passion, originality and respect for the sport seep from his photos.

The occasional texts by Camille, short essays and interviews, are informative and provide context for such a diverse set of images.

table' book due to its large size and weight. However, this category is often used to denigrate a publisher's overproduction of what could be a more simplistic publication.

This is certainly not the case. These art quality printed pages 'inside the world of professional bike racing'.

In his forward ex-pro David Miller tells us “When you’re in it, you don’t see it.” Perhaps cycling fans have drifted too far into the sport, becoming swamped with magazines, books and phone images; it can dull the joy of cycling photography. This book is sure to awaken the eye and rekindle the pure pleasure of immersion into a photo.

72 | Cycling World

Cycling World

Book Review: Circus: Inside the World of Professional Bike Racing

58

Cav. Sprinter. Climber. TdeB Caerphilly Moutain 2012

GB Special

March 2017| 73

59

PEAK DISTRICT FEATURE

by Sarah Roe

Peaks and Troughs

March 2017| 75

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he challenging gradients, bleak moorlands and fast roads of the Peak District are often associated with the world of competitive cycling. Tea rooms in villages throughout the region cashed in on the crowds lining the streets for last year’s Aviva Tour of Britain and the Tour of Yorkshire in 2014, while gaggles of lycra-clad warriors are a common sight toiling up the dizzying heights of Winnat’s Pass from picturesque Edale, or relaxing in Hathersage or Castleton after a rapid moorland descent. But the county has gentler charms too. The striking landscape was once a thriving network of train and tram lines serving mills, quarries mines, most of which now lie as dormant museum relics of railway heritage, fading and crumbling back amongst the wildflowers, rocks and native woodlands. Several former railway lines have been resurrected as walking and cycle tracks, which at weekends buzz with throngs of families and daytrippers, gliding along linear, surfaced pathways. In 2015 two of these trails were voted by the charity Sustrans’ supporters as their favourite routes. The Monsal Trail for the best path under 30 miles and the Transpennine Trail (which includes a former railway track in the Peak District) for top long distance route.

While most people arrive at these traffic-free paths by car, both trails are close to railway lines between Manchester and Buxton or Manchester and Sheffield, so there are some great opportunities to make linear journeys by bicycle, and get a lift home at the end.

MONSAL TRAIL

On a quiet day there is something Tolkienesque and mystical about the Monsal Trail. Imposing limestone cliffs seem to glow in the sunlight, there are sweeping views, colourful wildflowers and monolithic remnants of a bygone industry. The railway caused outrage when it was first built in 1863 as part of the Midland Railway line to London. The Duke of Devonshire objected to this new-fangled transport method which would have gone through his grounds, which meant the route was redirected through the Wye Valley. His neighbour, the Duke of Rutland, demanded that the line went through a tunnel so his view was intact. The railway closed in 1968 and slowly went back to nature. Tunnels through the hills became derelict and four of them were closed to the public. But in 2011 they opened up as part of the route and a new tourist gateway to Bakewell was born. From Miller’s Dale car park near Bixton the eight and a half mile path follows the river Wye and then sweeps up to the old railway at the start of the Monsal Trail. The surfaced path makes for an easy ride, so there’s plenty of scope for relaxing and taking in the view. In spring the trail is peppered with wildflowers including orchids and wild thyme and sunlight shimmers through native trees on the hillside.

A towering old limekiln on the side of the track sprouts grasses and flowers and now acts as a home for birds and bats, and the string of tunnels along the trail are a constant reminder of its industrial past. Chee Tor, Rusher Cutting, Litton, Cressbrook, Headstone: their names echo the epic task for Victorian railroad engineers hacking through the hillside. Now eerily quiet they are home to various species of bats, which roost amongst cracks of the brickwork. Each of the tunnels are around 400 metres long and have lights activated by sensors which operate during daylight hours. If you're travelling in the afternoon take some lights in case you get caught out. There’s a tea and coffee stall, toilets, and an overgrown platform halfway at the disused Millers Dale station, while the elegant old building that was once Hassop station is now a bustling cafe and bookstore dedicated to the needs of hungry cyclists and walkers. You will need to be a confident road

To Tideswell

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76 | Cycling World

LONGDENDALE Route Map

cyclist to brave the four miles on the hairy A6 from Buxton station to the start of the trail at Millers Dale. Families tend to bring their bikes in the car or take a taxi from the station and hire bikes at Blackwell Bike Hire, a mile’s walk from the car park. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk

LONGDENDALE TRAIL

On the morning of the Tour de Yorkshire this busy former railway track between Manchester and Sheffield buzzed with the whirr of tyres on tarmac as thousands of spectators rushed to Holme Moss to get a prime viewing spot on the moor. The sevenmile Longdendale Trail to the Woodhead Tunnels is a peaceful traffic-free section of the Transpennine Trail linked by road to another off-road path from Dunford Bridge to Penistone, and popular as part of a daytrip to Sheffield. The start of the Longdendale Trail is conveniently located close to Hadfield station, so you can take the whole family along a ride on the train from Manchester without getting out the car, though you will need to turn round and go back again. You’ll cruise past a string of reservoirs and wild open moorland, with magnificent views of the Nine Holes Bridge and Torside reservoir, which once powered cotton and paper mills and now supplies much of Greater Manchester’s water. The surfaced path is an easy, mainly flat cycle to the Woodhead tunnels, with a crossing at the B6105 Glossop road. Three parallel tunnels, which are closed to the public, are each three miles long and now carry electricity via cables. Famous as the location for filming of ‘League of Gentlemen’ the traditional mill town of Hadfield has shops, toilets, a cafe and bike hire (Longdendale cycles). Real ale fans may want to make a detour to larger Glossop, where Music pub The Globe serves up a fine selection of beers, and is also, unusually, a destination throughout Greater Manchester for vegan food. www. transpenninetrail.org.uk

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78 | Cycling World

PEAK DISTRICT FEATURE

Family Cycling and Motorhoming in The Peaks The Peak District is a gem in the English landscape, offering invigorating cycling. Easy to get to and with a wealth of places to stay, including Caravan Club sites, Cycling World Editor takes the family there for a cycling holiday.

March 2017| 79

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he upland area known as The Peak District offers a patchwork of English culture as it spans across numerous regions: mainly situated in northern Derbyshire it also includes parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. This makes a cycling holiday rather appealing from the outset; all those café stops each offering local cakes- we’re packing the I-Spy Book of Cakes. The National Park was opened in 1951 and with its proximity to the cities of Manchester and Sheffield and easy access by road and rail, it attracts millions of visitors every year. It’s an area of great diversity, split into the northern Dark Peak, where most of the moorland is found and whose geology is gritstone, and the southern White Peak, where most of the population lives and whose geology is mainly limestone. Booking is recommended at holiday times and weekends throughout the year. Our trip promised a slice of luxury with the loan of a motorhome from The Caravan Club. The sheer size of it installed trepidation; the six-berth for mere three would have taken up four places in the local carpark so had to be dropped off a mile up the coast. But there’s nothing like a giant Wendy house on wheels to get the kids excited about going away, especially those who have spent many a trip catching droplets of rain from flysheets into saucepans. The Caravan Club website provides a comprehensive list motorhome rental outlets. Our destination is Chatsworth Park Caravan Club Site, Bakewell, Derbyshire. It’s set in the old walled garden on the picturesque Chatsworth Estate, established by the Duchess of Devonshire in 1977. The site caters for the younger visitor with a farmyard and adventure playground. The village of Baslow is a fifteen-minute walk with a couple of good pubs, including the refurbished Devonshire Arms.

Bakewell market on Mondays is recommended. One of the first visits should be to the Estate, which includes the grandiose house, where you can escape on one the inevitable rainy days, wandering around the beautifully decorated rooms. There are also the formal gardens, farm shop and café. Scenic strolls and cycling on tarmac roads are a must in the 1,000-acre park laid out by Capability Brown. 2016 is the year to enjoy the landscape designer who changed our countryside and created a style which has shaped people’s picture of quintessentially rural England. This year marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown with a lottery-funded festival, the first ever celebration of Brown’s extensive works, bringing together a huge range of events, openings and exhibitions. From traffic-free, disused railway lines to climbs that feature in ‘yet another collection of great cycling climbs’, there’s something for everyone when cycling in the Peaks.

TOUR OF THE SOUTHERN PEAK DISTRICT ON THE TISSINGTON TRAIL

Sustrans’ National Cycle Network routes on the old Cromford and High Peak, and Ashbourne and Buxton railways lines provide accessible family routes. Following the route of the former Buxton to Ashbourne railway line, the Tissington Trail runs from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay passing through the picturesque village of Tissington and the beautiful countryside of the Derbyshire Dales.

ROUTE DETAILS

From - to Station Road, Ashbourne to Mapleton Road, Parsley Hay Distance 13 miles Terrain Traffic-free with some easy gradients. Dust surface National Cycle Network National Route 68

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

The route follows the former Buxton to Ashbourne railway line from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay passing through the village of Tissington. It nears Dovedale, a dramatic limestone ravine with stunning scenery, wildlife, and famous stepping stones which cross the River Dove. Built as part of the London and North Western Railway, the Buxton to Ashbourne railway line opened in 1899 and closed in 1967. Once the track was removed, the route was transformed into a recreational trail and opened to the public in 1971. The traffic-free trail is ideal for walkers, cyclists and horse riders and is mostly flat apart from a relatively steep incline at Mappleton. Ashbourne, where the route starts, is a historic market town, well established in Saxon times and listed in the Domesday survey, where it's called `Esseburne'. Ashbourne's legacy of more than 200 listed buildings, fine coaching inns and mellow-bricked town houses combine to create the town's appealing atmosphere. It’s a steady climb from Ashbourne into the heart of the National Park. Arriving in Tissington, Tissington Hall is worth a visit but is only open to the public for 28 days each year so check their website before heading over. If you fancy a spot of lunch on route, The Old Coach House in Tissington is a busy tearoom with outdoor seating.

At Parsley Hay, the trail links with the High Peak Trail which runs south east towards Cromford, from High Peak Junction via Middleton Top and Parsley Hay

80 | Cycling World

Road cycling holidays and training camps on the smoothest roads ever, in Andalucia, southern Spain. The Vuelta frequently passes through this area. Challenge yourself on the big climbs, enjoy the exhilarating escents, experience the beautiful pueblos blancos.

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March 2017| 81

to Sparklow. When the wind is low the trail is ideal for novices as it was originally engineered in the 1820s to canal standards, so mainly runs level through a high limestone landscape. So you get spectacular long views with little climbing. The High Peak Trail is 17.5 miles long and offers the chance to see the old winding engine at Middleton To, a working beam engine built in 1829 using steam to raise and lower wagons on the Middleton incline.

Also worth a visit is the nearby National Stone Centre.

THE MONSAL TRAIL

The Monsal Trail is traffic free route running along the former railway line through some of the Peak District’s most spectacular limestone dales. It stretches for 8.5 miles between Blackwell Mill in Chee Dale, three miles south of Buxton, and Coombs Road in Bakewell. The trail is accessible to cyclists, walkers, horse riders and wheelchair users. Most of the route was opened to the public in 1981 but four former railway tunnels closed in 1968 had to remain closed due to safety reasons, with public footpaths people around them. On 25 May 2011 the four railway tunnels – Headstone Tunnel, Cressbrook Tunnel, Litton Tunnel, Chee Tor Tunnel –opened for trail users as part of a major project led by The Peak District National Park Authority. Each tunnel is about 400 metres long and are lit during normal daylight hours.

Two shorter tunnels - Chee Tor No.2 and Rusher Cutting – already formed part of the Monsal Trail.

It is the first time the public have been able to go through the tunnels since the former Midland Railway Line closed in 1968, seeing breathtaking views at places like Water-cum-Jolly Dale that have remained hidden since the railway closed. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk

CHALLENGING TOUR ROUTES

If desired there are undulating routes with a mixture of long ascents and descents and short, sharp climbs. The landscape is so testing that The Peak District will host this year’s Aviva Women’s Tour. The Tour (June 15-19) is the toughest edition in its three-year history and hits The Peaks on stage three between Ashbourne and Chesterfield. The

82 | Cycling World Caravan Club Site, Stafford Poolsbrook Country Park.Tissington Trail by www. greatbritishbikerides.net The Caravan Club has teamed with up Sustrans to develop 35 cycling routes which can be accessed right on the doorstep of many Caravan Club sites.

Each route is highlighted with advice on the surfaces, amount of traffic, suitability for children, level of hills, where to stop for refreshments, directions and optional extensions making it simply to plan a trip.

For more information on cycling please visit www. caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/beinspired/cycling

CYCLING EVENT

On 29 May 2016, Experience Freedom from The Caravan Club, in partnership with caravan manufacturer Adria, is encouraging cyclists to join Kilotogo, a weekend of activities based at Weston Park stately home in Shropshire. Cyclists can take on the challenge of one of three routes, 56, 80, 100 miles around the local area, enjoy fun activities and there is also the chance to see a selection of motorhomes and caravans at the start and finish line. www.kilotogo.com

To Pennine Bridlewa y

stage packs 2,000 metres of climbing Hurdlow into just over 112 kilometres of racing, which is sure to make the day action-packed. Heading from Ashbourne riders will head for a number of tricky climbs in the region.

After reaching Buxton the peloton then head east via Youlgreave and Matlock and out of the Peaks as they make their way to the finish line in Chesterfield.

1.5

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CARAVAN CLUB SITES IN AND AROUND THE PEAK DISTRICT

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Chatsworth Park Caravan Club Site, Bakewell. A caravan pitch costs from Alsop Parwich ÂŁ20.72 based on two adults and two children ng to n T per pitch, per night Trail ra il National cycle route number Blackshaw Moor 547 Caravan Site, near Routes using minor roads Tissington Leek Buxton Caravan Tunnel Steep descent Club Site Carsington Very steep descent To Thorpe Water Caravan Club Car park with picnic site Ilam Site, Ashbourne Toilet Information point Castleton Caravan Tunnel Cycle hire Club Site High Onn Mapleton Lane

2

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B5023

To Buxton (6 miles)

B5035 W irksworth

A6 to Amber gate & Derby

March 2017| 83

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84 | Cycling World

1 MAN 12 DAYS 32 CHALLENGES Find out more about Mark Beaumont’s Wild About Argyll epic challenge and plan your own adventure at wildaboutargyll.co.uk

Image credit Kieran J Duncan

Promotional March Feature 2017| | 85 Promotional Feature| A

Mark Beaumont goes Wild About Argyll

A

rgyll and the Isles is Scotland’s Adventure Coast. And what could be more exciting than a two-wheeled adventure on Islay, one of the region’s most beautiful and cycle-friendly islands? Follow in the slipstream of Mark Beaumont, who pedaled across this Hebridean island on his recent Wild About Argyll adventure.

Largely flat and with quiet country roads, Islay is ideal for cycling. It’s known as ‘The Queen of the Hebrides’. Cycle around the island and you’ll soon see why. It’s truly beautiful, with fertile farmland, miles and miles of sandy beaches and breath-taking coastal views around every corner. Discover fascinating historic sites, incredible wildlife and world-famous peaty malts as you ride along.

You could spend many happy days exploring the island by bike, with a number of different routes taking in the island’s highlights. Cycle to the south to visit the Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin distilleries where you can sample a dram, head to The Rhinns of Islay to discover some of the island’s most glorious beaches and pedal north from Port Askaig for wonderful views of Jura and the Sound of Islay. Or why not hop across on the ferry to explore neighbouring Jura? Mountainous and sparsely populated, it’s perhaps the wildest of the Inner Hebridean islands and offers fabulous – if challenging – riding.

Islay is dotted with cracking cafés, so you’re never far from that all-important tea and cake stop. Ardbeg’s Old Kiln Café and Debbie’s Mini Market at Bruichladdich are both popular with cyclists and serve up fantastic coffee and home-made cakes. If you’re cycling The Rhinns, stop off at An Gleann to pick up some An Gleann Tablet – a glucose-packed treat that’s certain to give you an energy boost! Islay is home to some excellent hotels and and restaurants, many of which feature local produce on their menu, including lamb, beef and venison from the local farms and seafood plucked fresh from the surrounding waters. What could be better than tucking into super-fresh haddock and chips washed down with an Islay Ale after a long day in the saddle?

There’s a great range of holiday accommodation to choose from on Islay. From hotels to hostels, cottages to camping, you’ll find something to suit. Many offer extras aimed at cyclists. For example, Persabus Farm provides ‘camping with breakfast’, which is ideal for cyclists who are heading off early to catch the morning ferry from Port Asakig.

Bicycles go free of charge on the ferry to Islay, but you can also hire a bike from various places on the island, including Bowmore, Port Charlotte and Port Ellen. Islay Cycles also offers a bike repair service as well as guided cycle tours of the island.

Islay has an active cycling community and the local riders go for a scenic social cycle every Sunday. They meet at 10am at Debbie’s mini market in Bruichladdich and you’re more than welcome to join them.

So whether you’re a veteran cycle tourist or an occasional rider, you’ll find that Islay is the perfect destination for your biking adventure. And why stop there? The ferry from Islay will drop you at Kennacraig on Kintyre. From here you can pick up the famous Caledonia Way, National Route 78 of the National Cycle Network. Or how about catching the ferry from Tarbert to Portavadie to cycle through Cowal to Dunoon? You could detour via the island of Bute.

info@exploreargyll.co.uk

www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk

“Islay may be best known for its peaty tipple, but being Scotland’s fifth largest island there is also plenty to boast about when it comes to adventure sports. The cycling is relatively flat, on excellent and beautiful roads, the distilleries path at Port Ellen is well worth an explore and the coastline has spectacular kayaking with sea caves and uninhabited islands like Texa”.

-Mark Beaumont ExploreArgyll

@ExploreArgyll

explore_argyll

86 | Cycling World

GAVIA PASSO DOBLE Our correspondent, John Orchard, rides the Alpine Pass with Grand Tour winner Alberto Contador clad in a new range of cycle clothing from Italian new boys rh+

Alberto Contador’s Palmares Major Stage Race Victories Tour de France 2007 & 2009 Giro d’Italia 2008 & 2015 Vuelta a Espania 2008, 2012 & 2014 Paris-Nice 2007 & 2010 Tirreno Adriatico 2014 Tour of the Basque Country 2008, 2009 & 2014.

March 2017| 87

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ow, I love to ride and I love to dance, so when I received an unexpected invitation from Italian cycle clothing manufacturer rh+ to 'Pasta Party and DJ with Alberto Contador’ at the top of the Passo di Gavia in the beautiful Italian region of Lombardy, naturally I jumped at the chance. I knew that the 32 year old Spanish Grand Tour winner was renowned for his sense of fun and the chance to get down to his grooves sounded like too good an opportunity to miss.

rh+ may currently be a new name to you but that's all about to change. In only 10 years they have stormed the Italian market equaling the mighty Castelli in market share.

Having spent that time perfecting their product range they feel ready to spread their wings and enter the competitive UK and US markets. rh+ have recently teamed up with fleece manufacturer Polartec to create some of the most technically innovative riding kit around and now they want to tell the world about it.

In addition to the new AirX-Change clothing range, rh+ and Polartec were launching their collaboration with, and sponsorship of, Team Fundacion Contador, an organisation formed to spread awareness of the health benefits of cycling and to give promising young riders a chance to ride on the World Tour circuit. The launch of this collaboration and the RXDUE event (an ascent of the iconic Passo di Gavia with Alberto Contador) took place recently in the beautiful city of Milan, mecca for the world’s fashionistas and birth place of iconic Italian bike builders Bianchi.

Seeing the enormous scrum of journalists and film crews squeezed into the room reminded me just how popular Contador is in Italy and Spain.

He is a huge sporting celebrity and draws an adoring crowd wherever he goes. When faced with the glare of the media circus Contador comes across as quiet sort of guy, reserved even but when you get him alone

On Lombardy

joined by Polartec CEO (and owner of uber cool US bike builder Independent Fabrication) Gary Smith and rh+ President Giovanni Cagnoli to answer questions about their collaboration and role as official sponsor of Team Fundacion Contador. The young team currently consists of mainly Spanish riders with just one Italian and one Belgian exception. I asked Contador whether there would be opportunities for young UK riders to join the team and he confirmed that there would be, in fact the team are actively looking for riders from those countries at the moment. In addition to bringing on young riders and promoting the idea of cycling for health the Foundation has also pledged to invest significant money in developing improved treatment and rehabilitation techniques for stroke victims. This is a subject which is painfully close to Contador’s heart as, in 2004, aged 21 he suffered a life-threatening stroke which required major surgery. He was lucky to emerge with no lasting after effects but quickly set about doing all he could to raise stroke awareness.

Lombardy is famous for the Tour of Lombardy (Il Lombardia) or ‘The Race of the Falling Leaves’ which takes place in early October each year, 4 October for 2015. Run over 260km the race usually incorporates the Madonna del Ghisallo a defining climb at the top of which is the Chapel of the Madonna which includes a cycling museum and is a shrine for cycle tourists. As one visitor put it – ‘Only the Italians could link cycling and religion!’

he is warm and full of fun, putting everybody at ease with his infectious smile. 2016 will be his last season as a pro rider and he will retire as one of the most successful riders of all time. The winner of seven Grand Tours (TdeF 2007 & 2009: Giro 2008 & 2015; Vuelta 2008, 2012 & 2014) Contador is second only to the great Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil in terms of Grand Tours won. He still claims he won two more Grand Tour victories after being stripped of his 2010 TdeF and 2011 Giro wins following a doping scandal.

Contador still claims these victories but the record books no longer share the same view.

Here in sunny Milan we are gathered to focus on the future. Contador is

88 | Cycling World

With the formalities over we drove three and a half hours north past the shimmering waters of Lake Como to the Hotel Palace in the picture perfect mountain town of Bormio. Once checked-in we were equipped with a bike and furnished with clothing from the new rh+ AirX-Change range which we would test on the climb of the iconic Paso di Gavia the following day. This is remarkable kit, beautifully made and exquisitely detailed. I thought that I might overheat in the long bibtights, thermal jersey and jacket I had been provided but the rh+ team had called it just right. When I woke in the morning it was to forecasts of chilly conditions. I have reviewed the rh+ AirX-Change range earlier in ths is sue but suffice to say I could not have asked for better equipment in which to ride the Gavia.

The Passo di Gavia and its sister Passo dello Stelvio sit between two provinces, Sondrio in the north and Brescia in the south. During the winter months this area is an established destination for skiers and snowboarders but in the summer the region is quiet. Despite being one of the world's most perfect destinations for cyclists most stay on the French side of the Alps. One innovative idea to attract more cyclists to the area is the proposal to close the Gavia Pass to cars and trucks for one day a week during the summer months. This sounds like a great idea to me and would make a real difference to the enjoyment of the ride. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a busy road but it’s always nice to know that you won’t meet a truck when rounding a blind bend at 65kph.

The Passo di Gavia climbs skyward from the pretty

March 2017| 89

leewickfarm.co.uk 01255 823281 Lee Wick Farm Cottages and Glamping is set in the North Essex countryside, close to the coast. It’s a peaceful site to relax and explore the local area by bike.

Offering 2 cottages and 7 glamping Pods, there is plenty of accommodation to choose from.

The Cart Lodge sleeps up to 12 people over two spacious floors.

A large kitchen / dining area leads into the courtyard garden, which has a covered area to store bikes.

Stable Cottage sleeps from 2 – 7 people; its perfect for couples or a small group.

It has a lovely garden with views over the estuary.

If glamping is more your style, you can choose from one of three MegaPods, or the CargoPod, each sleeping up to 2 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children with a double bed and double sofa bed. Our new Armadilla’s are perfect for 2 adults sleeping in one double, or two single beds. All the glamping units have their own loo, shower, small kitchen area, BBQ and fire pit. The CargoPod and our three Armadilla’s each have their own log-fired hot tubs, what could be better at the end of a day in the saddle?

90 | Cycling World

Tearoom, Gallery and Giftshop

Next to the historic ruins of Sweetheart Abbey in the pretty village of New Abbey, between Mabie and Dalbeattie 7 Stanes.

Ideal place to stop off on your Solway Coast ride.

Home-made soups, speciality teas, and a selection of delicious home baking.

Larger parties, please just get in touch to make a reservation.

Open Wed-Sun from Feb half-term until 31 March Then 7 days a week for coffees, light lunches and teas

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26 Main Street | New Abbey | Dumfries | DG2 8BY

01387 850377 | www.abbeycottagetearoom.com

Abbey Cottage Tearoom

March 2017| 91

Alpine towns of Bormio on one side and Ponte di Legno on the other meeting at the summit at a height of 2618m. When ridden from Bormio the climb is 26km long. It begins gently at first, the SP29 road leaving Bormio and meandering gently through the pine trees. The route passes uneventfully through the sleepy villages of Uzza, San Antonio and San Gottardo before entering the verdant Parco Nationale dello Stelvio. At 13km you reach the village of Santa Caterina, the road ramps up, turns right and the real fun begins. Up to this point in the climb I had been riding with rh+ General Manager Marzio Demartin, an ex professional skier with the build of a pro cyclist.

He had been taking it easy on me and we chatted as we rode along together. Having reached the turn he rose from the saddle, accelerated away and as he disappeared into the distance shouted over his shoulder, ‘This is where the real climb begins, welcome to the Gavia!’

We had decided to set off early as my flight time from Milan Linate airport meant I would have to take on the Milan rush hour traffic. Up the mountain early and off the mountain early was my mantra. Back in Bormio Alberto Contador was addressing a crowd of eager cyclists before

formally firing the start gun, hopping into a helicopter and flying to Ponte di Legno where he would do the same on the other side. He then returned by helicopter to Bormio.

There he mounted his Tinkoff-Saxo S-Works Venge, rode up the Gavia, over the summit and descended into Ponte di Legno before turning around and riding back up to the summit!

Out of Santa Caterina the crumbling tarmac twists through the pines and in a heartbeat you’re clear of the hustle of the world below. This is an impossibly pretty climb, small and intimate, gentle even, replete with mountain goats who casually occupy the road and eye the passing, panting cyclists with mild disdain.

At about 20km the road kicks up to its steepest gradient. The scale of the landscape grows and each bend reveals another colossal Alpine vista. The scale of the mountain scape sends shivers down your spine. It was here during the 1988 Giro that a US 7-Eleven-Hoonved rider, Andy Hampsten from North Dakota made history in the most extreme conditions the Giro had ever seen. As the weather closed in and the torrential rain turned to snow, the peloton pleaded with the race organizers to cancel the stage. Most

teams were woefully ill-prepared for the conditions but the 7-ElevenHoonved management had predicted the weather and had stocked up on extreme weather ski gear for their riders.

With the peloton in disarray, Hampsten and Dutch rider Erik Breukink attacked, descending the treacherous snow covered roads into Bormio without fear, desperate for the shelter of their team cars.

Breukink won the day and Hampsten entered the record books going on to become the first and only American to win the Giro d’Italia.

Having passed the steepest section the road flattens and winds its way across a plateau before revealing the biggest surprise of the ride, a mountain top lake, Largo Nero sparking amidst the snowcapped peaks. Heartened by the sight of the summit and with the relentless pull of gravity reduced by the gentle gradient I upped my pace. I could see a considerable group of cyclists and photographers gathered at the inflatable summit marker which had been specially erected for the event. As I grew nearer, the sight of the crowd made me stronger and I crossed the line at a pace that seemed to impress the assembled

92 | Cycling World

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Here, in the tranquil English countryside, you are never too far from some of the country’s most sought-after cycling routes.

The Two Tunnels Greenway, running for 12.5 miles, is only a stone’s throw away. On this route you can explore the Midford Castle, Dundas Aqueduct, the Canal Path and the Combe Down Tunnel, which if the longest cycling route in the UK. In the middle of the Two Tunnels route is where you will be staying at Tucking Mill, where the father of Geology William Smith was born in 1769. Here you have the choice of a warm and comforting break in one of the two local pubs, The Hope and Anchor and The Wheelwright Arms where hot Great British food is served daily.

Only a short distance towards Bath and you will discover the Kennet and Avon Canal route to the town of Bradford-on-Avon. Along the way you will stumble upon the Avoncliff Aqueduct, a 14th century barn called Tithe, and treat yourself to a tour of the Quoins Organic Vineyard with a tasting or two.

Ambitious explorers might take on the 13 mile Bath to Bristol railway path, dotted with riverside pubs and the Gaius Sentius sculpted water fountain.

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March 2017| 93

group. Did I really hear them cheering? Only once I came to a gasping halt did I turn and see Alberto Contador, resplendent in his neon team colours a mere 50m behind me. Maybe the cheers hadn’t been for my efforts after all.

Before I had a chance to ask him where his playbox was and what was top of his DJ playlist he was passed me and into the descent without stopping.

As I sipped my hot gluwein and drank in the grandeur of the mountain peaks something remarkable occurred to me; I had beaten Alberto Contador over the summit of the Passo di Gavia. I had completed the 26km in 1:50:46 and I was proud. Somehow the fact that Alberto had set off a full hour after me didn’t seem that important.

P.S. The descent of the Gavia is a particularly exciting one due to the steep gradient and tight corkscrew bends; it’s like riding a roller coaster on a bicycle. On the way down I overtook an unsuspecting motorcyclist who did a comic book double take as I flew silently by. This is a fairy tale of a climb, tough (the average gradient is 8%, the middle section ramps up to 14%) but never spiteful. Just when you feel you might be running out of juice the mountain gives you something back, a flat section or a tiny descent. I will return to ride the Stelvio but in the meantime if you have a chance to ride the Passo di Gavia take it, you will not be disappointed.

P.P.S. On my return home and on closer inspection of my invitation I noticed that I may have been the victim of a hurried translation from Italian to English. Only then did it become clear that instead of ‘Pasta Party and DJ with Alberto Contador’ it should have read ‘Pasta Party with DJ and Alberto Contador.’ Oh well, I thought, there’ll beb plenty of time for that next year.

94 | Cycling World

Film Review

THE PROGRAM

THE NEW ARMSTRONG FILM

By Jeremy Henderson A director and editor of corporate films who loves film and likes cycling when he can summon the energy.

Photos from Canal Studios

L

ance Armstrong - a hero, a cheat, a winner, a loser?

Beating cancer is one thing but for a one-day racer to become a grand tour contender? That is one step too far for the journalist David Walsh, on whose book, Seven Deadly Sins, this film is based.

Director Stephen Frears Running Time 104 minutes Certificate 15 On general release from October 2015

Thirty minutes in we are on the 1999 Tour de France. Johan Bruyneel, the team manager, instructs Lance to go for it and we see him accelerating uphill, slicing through the field. It is exhilarating and as we cut to the press tent the journalists are suddenly caught by the moment and the enormity of the Armstrong attack. Walsh however, played by Chris O’Dowd, stares at the screen, mouth open, disbelief in his eyes. It is an engaging scene as are many of the sequences in this film and yet I left the cinema feeling somewhat shortchanged, realising that I had seen some exhilarating footage as well as determined performances, but had learnt almost precisely nothing.

Ben foster as Armstrong has some great moments and at times his facial twitches capture the one-time hero in an uncanny way. We are allowed to witness his attempts to practice the line, “I’ve never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs” in his bathroom mirror in what feels like a strange homage to De Niro’s famous scene in Taxi Driver. When at a book signing a fan thanks him so sincerely for his example Foster shows Armstrong visibly struggling with the deception of his own narrative.

But for the most part the film simply drives on desperately ticking-off the critical moments in a story that is frantically crammed into 104 minutes.

It is nonetheless an entertaining movie that has worked hard at set pieces. Some of the racing is visceral, whether riding over the cobblestones in rain or approaching surging corners in the Alps. Original footage blends well and the riding always feels authentic and exciting. But there is also the other story to tell, that of Walsh’s determination to unveil the superstar as a cheat. Here the film is less convincing and although O’Dowd is a believable character the Sunday Times scenes are thin. The doping doctor, Michele Ferrari, is little more than a pantomime villain and although Jesse Plemons is very watchable playing the teammate of Armstrong, Floyd Landis, his morality tale is less than convincing.

Stephen Frears directs and claims to have known nothing about cycling or Armstrong before this project.

Assuming most of the audience might have seen the news in recent years then the danger is that nothing much is added to this sorry tale whereas those who know little of the details may struggle to appreciate the impact of several characters.

This is a decent watch that any cycling enthusiast will struggle to resist but the plot points insist that we keep driving relentlessly forward leaving us breathlessly entertained and none the wiser.

March 2017| 95

Q AND A WITH DAVID WALSH Text from Studio Canal

WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF LANCE WHEN YOU FIRST MET HIM? DW: It was on the 1993 Tour. He was hugely impressive and I liked him.

He was charismatic and brash, he absolutely knew what he wanted. I knew this guy was going to leave his mark on the Tour de France. I didn’t think he could ever win because everything on his record said he was not really a top climber or timetrialist. But the one day races, Lance was going to be the man for them.

And most of all he had this will to succeed.

WHAT ABOUT LANCE MADE YOU BELIEVE THAT HE WAS NOT DESTINED TO WIN THE TOUR? DW: Physiologically he didn’t look like a guy who was ever going to be a great climber. His upper body was too big and there was nothing in his record that said that he would be good enough to win the Tour in terms of all those long climbs in the Alps and the Pyrenees IN FLECHE-WALLONNE LANCE IS OUTPACED BY THE GEWISS TEAM. WHY IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT? DW: Late in 1993 he became the third youngest guy to win the World Championship. He really rode superbly well and he became this superstar.

In Fleche-Wallonne, a one day classic that should have suited Lance really well, three guys from the team being coached/medicated by Dr Michele Ferrari break away and finish first, second and third and Lance thinks this isn’t right - these guys didn’t do that without the assistance of the drug that was the rage at the time, EPO. By 1995 Lance and his team mates are using EPO. HOW DID THIS NEW DRUG EPO, ALONG WITH BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, WORK IN A DIFFERENT WAY FROM PREVIOUS PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS? DW: These new drugs don’t enable

a man to the get the best out of himself, they create a new man. When you go up a mountain your weight is terribly important - the lighter you are the more effective you will be on the climb. Some boys are born too big to be great mountain climbers. EPO can transform them, they can stay the size they are while EPO generates the production of red blood cells which will give them a supply of oxygen, and then the fact that you are big and strong is an advantage.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO LANCE’S COMEBACK IN 1999, AFTER BEATING CANCER, SUPPORTED BY DR FERRARI? DW: Lance to all intents and purposes has been reborn. That race started at Puy de Fou; Lance blasted everybody.

It was an ominous performance. Then we came to the mountains and the first stage was to Sestriere. Lance had ridden it four times but we’d never seen him in the lead group in the mountains. On that day to Sestriere not only did he ride with the big guys but at the end he rode away from them and won on his own. I was in the press room that day. There were eyes being raised to heaven and people shaking their heads. So you started to look at Lance closer and closer.

What ratio in the press room were believers versus non-believers?

DW: I’d say 60% blindly believed and 40% had real doubts. Now out of those 40%, 36% were happy to suppress those doubts. If you read their copy, it looked like they believed in Lance. If you spoke to them honestly and intimately, they would tell you they didn’t really believe him. I used to rail against that at the time. I’d say you can express your scepticism. And they would say, and get sued? And have Lance put me in his black book and have me blacklisted? And having no access to the team? Everyone wants a Lance interview so journalists were trying

to protect themselves. By protecting themselves in that way, in my view, some of them were knowingly propagating a myth.

OTHERS WHO SPOKE OUT AGAINST LANCE WERE THOROUGHLY VILIFIED

BY HIM DURING THE ENSUING INVESTIGATIONS. DW: It was brutal, brutal the way that Lance tried to crush everybody that got in his way. To call Emma O’Reilly a whore was truly despicable.

To dismiss Betsy Andreu as a crazed bitch was so wrong, so unfair. He made an illusion to Stephen Swart’s family which was just awful. He called Greg LeMond a drunk. It was so beyond the pale. Everybody who was involved in this story, adversaries of Lance, they would all say that the doping was bad, but not nearly as bad as the bullying.

WRITING THE BOOK BECAME A PERSONAL STORY. HOW DID IT FEEL TO BE PORTRAYED ON THE BIG SCREEN? DW: It’s really surreal. All through this story I was clinging on to the Marge Simpson mantra that there is no shame in being a pariah! There were times when I felt like the outsider; the black sheep. To now have myself portrayed in a more favourable way is an incredible turnaround and it’s hugely flattering.

AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT THE FILM OF THE PROGRAM WILL BRING TO THIS EVER UNFOLDING STORY? DW: I think we’re going to get a sense of Lance the winner, Lance the ruthless crusher of people that got in his way. It’s important that people see the character that lay at the core of what US Anti-Doping chief executive Travis Tygart said is the greatest doping conspiracy that we’ve ever seen. People must understand the nature of the guy who masterminded that.

96 | Cycling World

March 2017| 97

98 | Cycling World Nearby Sustrans Routes 15 | 36 | 64

Cycling Breaks in Rutland The smallest county in England boasts fabulous cycle routes, both around Rutland Water and on country roads through chocolate box villages, with plenty of watering holes along the way.

Family- run Greetham Valley offers a choice of Lodge, Cottage and Hotel accommodation with cycle storage.

M

any cyclists already know of Rutland through the annual Rutland International CiCLE Classic (this year on Sunday 23rd April 2017). If you haven’t yet visited this little rural gem of a county, why not stay a while at Greetham Valley and discover some of the lovely cycle routes and loops throughout the rolling landscape, right from the doorstep? Greetham Valley offers a choice of Hotel accommodation (single or twin rooms), self-catering Lodges sleeping up to 6 in 3 bedrooms and a holiday Cottage sleeping 5. All have secure cycle storage available. We can provide full catering or just packed lunches, as required. And when you’re not cycling, take time to play golf on one of the three golf courses on-site, visit the gym (with in-house physiotherapist), fish in the coarse, trout or salmon lakes, birdwatch, ramble, play petanque or bowls or simply relax and chill out in the bar, on the patio, on your Lodge decking or the Cottage garden.

Tempted? Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist, racing fit or just want to bring family or friends on a cycling break, Greetham Valley in Rutland is the ideal accommodation venue.

Greetham Valley, Wood Lane, Greetham, Oakham, Rutland LE15 7SN 01780 460444 info@greethamvalley.co.uk

We look forward to welcoming you!

www.greethamvalley.co.uk

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0 B452

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SUSTRANS'

70 A4

BR ECON

TRAFFIC-FREE CYCLE RIDE

8 BR ECO N CAST L E & CAT H E DRAL B4601

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LLANFRYNACH

PE N CE L L

(ABERGAVENNY TO BRECON)

B R E C O N B E A C O N S Ta ly Rese

www.sustrans.org.uk/CyclingWorld Distance: 22 miles

TEXT BY WENDY JOHNSON

Start: Llanfoist Village Hall, near Abergavenny

Pentwyn Reser vo ir

Finish: Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon NCN route number: 46 at the start only 8

70 A4

Train stations: Abergavenny. No train station at Brecon but a Bike Bus with capacity for around 20 bikes operates between Brecon and Cardiff on Sundays and Bank Holidays from May to September

Po ntsticill Reser vo ir

PO N T ST ICIL L

Grade: Moderate

Cycling World 34

This long and meandering ride follows one of Britain’s prettiest towpath routes through the rural Vale of Usk, with remarkable mountainous scenery across the Brecon Beacons National Park. Start at the little wooded nature reserve at Llanfoist on the edge of Abergavenny before zig-zagging sharply upwards to join the banks of the canal. The dramatic scenery across The Black Mountains in the opening miles is impressive, with the giants of Skirrid and Sugar Loaf visible on the distant horizon. Within a few miles you’ll be near the little villages of Llangattock and Crickhowell, where the limestone cliffs of Llangattock Escarpment dominate the hillside to the left and the distinctive flat top of Crug Hywel ‘Table Mountain’ can be seen to the right.

Thick woodland covers the slopes of the valley in parts so look out for red kites soaring over the treetops and for the impressive red country house of Gliffaes and its

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ROUTE DESCRIPTION

70 A4

Mostly flat with a climb up to the towpath at the start and gentle climbing in the route’s second half. Tarmac path and stony trail, narrow and rugged in parts. Some gates and small road crossings with a short, quiet on-road section around Ashford Tunnel. Take care passing under low bridges running close to the water’s edge.

A465 Italian-inspired bell tower poking out from between the 05 trees at Myarth Hill. Locks are in noticeably short supply 4 throughout this ride, which makes the five Llangynidr Locks a bit of a rare treat. They appear at Aaround the 4102 halfway point and make a pretty spot for a mid-ride picnic while taking in the views. Alternatively, The Coach and A Horses pub near the bottom lock has a scenic waterside beer garden.

A4

TERRAIN, GRADIENTS AND ACCESS

After the Llangynidr Locks, watch boats disappearing into the long, dark Ashford Tunnel, before climbing up to join the short and quiet road that will take you around it.

Back on the towpath, the pretty village of Talybont-on-Usk in the Central Beacons appears, where there are lovely traditional pubs in the village, or Talybont Stores and Canal Side Café for supplies and snacks. There’s also an opportunity here to leave the canal behind and head for the attractive Talybont Reservoir along a section of the renowned Taff Trail. In the final miles, cross the gushing River Usk on Brynich Aqueduct. Brecon is close now and the towpath is often busier with walkers and cyclists around here. End at Theatr Brycheiniog at Brecon Basin or follow the short road into the narrow streets of Brecon centre. The cathedral and the ruins of Brecon Castle overlooking the Rivers Usk and Honddu are both worth a visit.

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LOOPS, LINKS AND LONGER RIDE

2 5 follow NCN 46 Clydach Gorge, an eight-mile traffic-free From Llanfoist B4 5 2 trail from BLlanfosit to Brynmawr. At Talybont-on-Usk follow NCN 8 Taff 4 Trail alongside Talybont Reservoir then loop back on a quiet road along the opposite side of the reservoir. NCN 8 Lôn Las Cymru is a longdistance challenge ride across Wales from Holyhead to Chepstow or Cardiff following a mix of traffic-free and on-road route.

42

Abergavenny

8 8 59 59 B4 B4

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e i r ilr e l s h snha a t h tCha a n o u onu n C m m co o o n ne e c M MBor B r & &

STAY

The Star Inn, Talybont-on-Usk (01874) 676635 www.starinntalybont.co.uk

EAT AND DRINK

The Coach and Horses is canalside at Llangynidr. At Talybont-on-Usk try The Star Inn, The White Hart, The Usk Inn and Talybont Stores and Canalside Café. The Three Horseshoes near Brynich Aqueduct is popular or try Tipple ‘n’ Tiffin at Theatr Brycheiniog at the route’s end. Venture into Brecon town centre where The Café on High Street is lovely and Tower Café at St Mary’s Church is very friendly with a pretty tea garden.

CYCLE HIRE

Hopyard Cycles, Abergavenny (01873) 830219 www.hopyardcycles.co.uk or Bikes and Hikes, Brecon (01874) 610071 www.bikesandhikes.co.uk

August 2016

8

L L A NT HO NY L L A NT HO NY

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102 | Cycling World

IT’S NOT YOUR ORDINARY CYCLE SHOP? Cycling World learn about the great work and progress Bespoke are making to change people’s lives

B

espoke Cycles, near Wythenshawe in South Manchester, is not you ordinary cycle shop.

Although its range includes some new and unused bikes, most of its stock is made up of previously-owned cycles, refurbished by a small team of apprentice mechanics. Many of these young men have been in prison or started life with a significant disadvantage – so you could say both bike and bike mechanic have been given a new lease on life.

Bespoke is part of the Message Enterprise Centre (MEC), an initiative of The Message Trust Youth Charity in Manchester. Opened in 2013, the MEC is a unique business hub designed to create new training opportunities and jobs for ex-offenders and other young people who need a second chance in life. In the businesses – which also include an onsite café, a hair and beauty salon and a building maintenance company – experienced manager’s work alongside apprentices who receive on-the-job training and a salary? Some stay only for a short period of time until another opportunity opens up; others stick around and grow with the businesses.

‘Our team meets hundreds of young people every year who are serious about changing their ways,’ explains The Message Trust’s founder and CEO Andy Hawthorne. ‘But no matter how much we hope and pray for a particular young person to stay on the right track when they leave prison, if they go straight back to the same home town and the same circle of friends, with no job and no support, chances are they will eventually turn back to crime.

The “revolving door” of prison really does exist, and too many people we cared about were getting stuck in it. So we decided we would do something about it.’

Over the last two years, the MEC has seen real success in helping ex-offenders and young people others have given up on. One such is Brian Curtis, who first came into contact with The Message Trust while he was in rehab following an increasingly destructive 17-year drug addiction. ‘From the age of 11, I was hanging around with the wrong people - burgling houses to begin with, progressing on to selling drugs,’ remembers Brian. ‘I was knocking about with the biggest gangsters in Newcastle, doing hundreds of pounds of heroin and cocaine a day. Obviously I did a lot of jail time. ‘It took until I was at rock-bottom before I saw the light. The last time I OD’d I had to be injected with adrenaline in my heart because I had technically been dead for three minutes. It was in a Rehab Centre called Betel where I found God and began to rebuild my life.’

Brian, who trained as a joiner while in prison, hopes to start his own furniture business in due course.

But for now, Bespoke offers steady work, a safe place to live, a mentor and supportive colleagues.

‘It felt amazing to get my wage packet at the end of my first week’s work,’ he says. ‘It’s good to be working, learning new things, meeting new people.

This is going to be a good year for me – a year of growth.’ Bespoke Cycles offers a range of new and refurbished cycles, bike parts and accessories.

The shop can be found at the Message Enterprise Centre, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester M22 4RG. They also offer a range of bikes for sale online through their eBay shop. www.bespokemanchester.com

March 2017| 103

104 | Cycling World

Wheels in Wheels

Cycling Camps

Almeria, Spain 18 – 25 March 2017 Autumn camps 7th-25th October

Why go on a cycling camp?

The benefits are real, we all suffer from a shortage of time to train for our specific goals and a cycling camp allows that time, especially when the weather goes against as well and throws all our schedules out the window.

Wheels in Wheels camps give you the opportunity to focus on your bike and riding without the hassle of nipping down the shops or picking the kids up from swimming, we endeavour to take all those thoughts away while in Mojacar in mainland Spain.

Mojacar in the Almeria region of Spain is a relatively new destination for UK cyclists to go on training camps early in the year but the professionals have been going there for years. With its quiet very well kept roads, varied terrain and most importantly warmer weather than the UK, there’s something to suit all abilities including the chance to ride a 2,000m climb even in the early season.

RIDE LIKE A PRO back up service

Our Ride like a pro back service is something we’re famous for. Groups have a back vehicle on the road carrying spares and nutrition plus any day bags riders may want to take with personal spares.

So why not just nip back to the team car drop off the unwanted clothing, change a wheel instead of fixing a puncture or grab some food or drink and back in the group within seconds.

Then there is advice on all the things you wanted to know from our team of experienced guides, chance to ride in the mountains to prepare for that testing Fondo or Etape later in the year.

Arrive at Almeria and we take care of you from then on

Once you arrive at Almeria Airport, we take over. After the short one hour transfer to the hotel we arrange for your bikes to be put into the secure workshops, no need to carry the bike and fall over it in your room. An hour to settle in and unpack in your spacious twin bedded room check your emails and relax on the balcony. Then you can put your bike together or your hire bike will all ready be waiting for you to fit your pedals or saddle. Tools and mechanical assistance is available.

A brief get to know us meeting before dinner and details of your week’s itinerary and collect your goody bag. All details will be available during the transfer from Almeria in your welcome pack.

4 Star hotel accommodation

Our base at the 4 star Valle del Este Hotel adds an extra element to your week with time to take in a sauna or Jacuzzi or get that massage you’ve promised yourself since last year. Facilities include swimming pools indoors and out, spinning room and a gym.

We supply top nutrition from Clif Bar and Nuun on all the rides and advise on intake and hydration.

After dinner how often can you sit down and socialise with like minded riders to compare challenges, learn from others experiences and relax, no chores, no work, just bikes.

We try and structure the week to allow your abilities to benefit from the time on and off the bike with no outside distractions. The hotel restaurant offers buffet style, excellent and plentiful food with the odd glass of alcohol (even the pros drink beer) this keeps everyone’s strength up for each days rides.

For more information please visit the Wheels in Wheels website www.wheelsinwheels.com

March 2017| 105

Each day’s ride

A buffet breakfast allows plenty of time to fuel up, collect your bars, gels and fill bottles and then get changed ready for the day’s ride starting at 09.30.

Each day will offer a vary route to take in all aspects of group riding and terrain with guides front and rear plus a back up vehicle close by. Coffee stop is arranged with time to get extra nutrition from the team car before the ride back to the hotel.

We offer an optional rest day to allow recovery time, from increased daily mileage, plus trips to local bike shops to see what the locals use and ride, with a chance to pick up the odd bargain or souvenir from the trip.

Just ride and recover

If your plan is to enjoy riding your bike we can hopefully make the effort easier by getting you fitter, more knowledgeable, better prepared, maybe a bit of a tan plus having a good time all in one week, before we see you safely back to Almeria Airport

106 | Cycling World

Cyclist Recipe

Hannah Barnes’ Hot Chicken F a j i t a s

H

annah had an impressive 2016 road racing season. Riding for top women’s team Canyon-SRAM, she won the National Road Race Championships and was part of the silver medal winning team time trial squad at the World Championships

Benefits: Post exercise refuelling

Hannah Barnes wins National Road Championships 2016

by Allan McKenzie SWpix.com

Nutritional facts Per Serving 336 Kcal Pro 8g Carbs 39g Fat 16g

Ingredients Serves four

2 large chicken breasts 2 peppers 2 red onions 2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1.5 teaspoon ground cumin 4 limes 8 wholegrain flour tortillas Extra virgin olive oil (one spray) Black pepper 300 g fat-free natural yoghurt 100 g cheddar cheese Salsa: 1-2 red chilies 6 tomatoes 1 lime Olive oil Salt & Pepper Guacamole: Cherry tomatoes (small handful) 1-2 red chilies Fresh coriander 1 large avocado (ripe) 1 lime

Directions

March 2017| 107

Wash, de-seed and cut the peppers into strips.

SALSA Finely chop the chillies.

Slice the onion into strips.

Roughly chop the tomatoes and coriander (including the stalks).

Slice the chicken lengthways into strips that are a similar length to the peppers.

Put the peppers, onions and chicken into a bowl and season with the paprika, cumin and pepper. Squeeze the juice of a lime over the ingredients.

Leave to marinade for 5 minutes while you prepare the salsa.

FAJITAS Fry up the chicken and vegetables for 6-8 minutes on a high heat until the chicken is cooked through. While the chicken is cooking, warm the wraps in the microwave or a dry frying pan.

Put the chilli and tomatoes in a bowl with salt, pepper and juice of 2 limes then stir in the coriander.

GUACAMOLE Finely chop the cherry tomatoes, coriander and chilli - mix together.

Half and de-stone the avocado and remove the flesh from the skin.

Chop it very small chunks and squeeze lime juice over it before mixing together in a bowl with the tomatoes, coriander and chillies.

Serve with low fat natural yoghurt, cheddar, salsa and guacamole.

The Food Champions project is a collaboration between The National Lottery and the country’s top sports nutritionists from the English Institute of Sport. National Lottery players raise £36m each week for projects and sports funding allows 1,300 elite athletes to train full-time and benefit from world-class facilities, coaching and leading medical and scientific advice through organisations like the EIS.

108 | Cycling World

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March March2017| 2017|109 109

Ask Anita

Universal Challenge Anita 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…

Dear Anita;

I

I've been getting into cycling during last year and managed to complete my first sprint triathlon which has given me a wonderful sense of achievement. As spring approaches, I would like to set out some new cycling challenges and goals and wondered if you could give inspiration?

Dear Reader;

Well done on your triathlon! Three sports in one day is really very impressive. The problem is that you’ll be itching to find challenges and goals in all three disciplines now and you may find yourself having a very busy summer!

Having challenges to aim for and inspire gives purpose and adds excitement to your life, so this is an excellent question, and here are some general suggestions for the cycling side of things.

Sportives

An obvious starting point is Sportives. Varying in length from about 30 kilometres to over a hundred, they are timed but aren’t races, so they give you that challenge and goal but without the pressure and with a friendly, supportive atmosphere.

Riding through beautiful areas with hundreds of other riders, sometimes with roads closed is an amazing atmosphere. Some have the extra challenge of lots and lots of brutal hills, so do your research before booking on! A sportive challenge I aspire to complete one day is the Vatternrundan in Sweden – the world’s largest recreational ride with 25,000 riders doing a 300km ride!

Long-distance challenges Whether for charity, or just for your own sense of achievement,

completing an iconic long-distance ride can be really fulfilling.

Depending on how much time you have available can determine your route. The LEJOG or End to End is often talked about – Land’s End to John O’Groats – but as you need a couple of weeks to do this, everyday things like work, children and pets may get in the way. Sticking to the UK, the C2C (Coast to Coast or Sea to Sea) or Way of the Roses are short, satisfying alternatives. Reading Cycling World should give you some inspiration for these types of route! Further afield (but not too far), London to Paris is a classic or you could look at cycling part of the North Sea Cycle Route – or along the Rhone, or around Ireland, or….the list is endless!

The Vatternrundan by sportograf

Everyday goals

Sometimes it’s good to have more everyday goals, rather than aiming at events. Cycling to work once a week perhaps, or to visit friends at the weekend, or joining a club and going out on some evening and Sunday rides. I know someone who has set himself a challenge of completing a certain number of cycle commuting miles for a year – working out how much money he’s saving, the calories he’s burning and the emissions reduced is really helping him to focus and his fitness is increasing hugely.

Challenges, adventures, and having fun achieving goals are such an exciting part of cycling, and even more so if you can share them with others. One of the things that makes me the happiest is the friendships I’ve built through cycling, and these have been formed by sharing challenges and goals as much as by sitting with pints/pies/cakes/cups of tea after lovely rides.

CW editor completes LEJOG

Cycling

110 | Cycling World

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March 2017| 111

Fellow Velo Provence and More

by Pedal Power

Cycle... Friendly... France

I

f you love the idea of a cycling holiday in France but are unsure about how to start your plan then, Fellow Velo may be just the people to contact. We are a small and friendly cycle holiday company, with people who love to help others discover and experience the joys of cycling in France for fun. You can ask questions, however small or large and we will aim to deliver on your cycling wishlist; beaches, lavender fields, markets, villages, vineyards and much more.

Fellow Velo designs, creates and delivers Bespoke Cycling Holidays, in addition to the featured tours which can be seen on our website. We can provide this service across most of France, with our most intimate cycling knowledge being in Provence, along the Atlantic Coast and on a fantastic rural ride to Paris. Our bespoke tours provide the opportunity to get exactly what you want from a cycling holiday and, an extra part of the joy is that you can be actively involved in the planning process.

“We just loved the surprise picnic in the vineyard”

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If you have a cycling dream... just make a wishlist and let us create your perfect cycling holiday; markets, vineyards, perching villages and an azure blue sea. Provence has it all and more!

Contact Fellow Velo the Provence and Wider France Specialist and prepare to experience your cycling dreams come true.

www.fellowvelo.com Tel: 07811 285021 / 01788 568371

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info@fellowvelo.com

112 | Cycling World

From the Workshop

Change Your Disc Pads

To be sure of getting the correct pads, buy the ones made by the manufacturer of the brakes

First remove the wheel

Sometimes you’ll have to remove the axis which holds the pads in the caliper.

This axis is threaded and held by a circlip

The tiny circlip is removed with a screwdriver.

Don’t lose it

Now unscrew the axis which holds the pads in the caliper

The manufacturer also supplies a new spring with the new pads

March 2017| 113

by Martial Prévalet - Martial is a mechanical engineer who has produced articles for car and bike magazines, including Le Sport Vélo, Bike Magazine and Cyclosport

Disk brakes can be found on MTB and now on road and CycloX bikes. Here’s how to replace the pads There is little maintenance and set-up but you’ll need to regularly replace the pads. Make sure you get the right pads

The new pad is thicker. Push the caliper pistons with a screwdriver to make space

Replace both brake pads

Align the padshole of the caliper with hole of the pad

You can use such a tool to help adjustment

Replace the axis and the circlip

ANNA FLANDERS

114 | Cycling World

Cycle Sport Marketing Officer at British Cycling Cycling World speaks to Anna about her role and her plans for the future.

March 2017| 115

A

nna Flanders is currently working as Cycle Sportmarketing Officer at British Cycling. Our editor jumped at the chance to speak to somebody who works tirelessly behind the scenes to promote British Cycling and enhance its global brand.

Explain your role within British Cycling

Q A

Within British Cycling I work in Cycle Sport marketing, which means I’m involved with major international events we host and deliver in the UK (such as the recent UCI Track Cycling World Cup) as well as major domestic events such as the British Cycling National Road Championships and British Cycling National Track Championships. It’s my job to raise the profile of these events to consumer and commercial audiences to attract spectators (to ticketed and free-to watch roadside events), drive audience engagement with TV, online and social media content, attract media coverage and service our commercial partners.

Your job as a Marketing Officer must be relatively easy given you represent a world renowned & muchloved brand like British Cycling! What are the challenges?

Q

It’s true that the success of the Great Britain Cycling Team gives us a great platform to promote cycling and we have seen a huge

A

surge in mass participation with more people taking up cycling than ever before; but that still doesn’t mean it’s easy! The sporting environment is still very competitive though, with so many sports organisations competing for both participants and commercial support. We have to work very hard to make sure that cycling remains an attractive option for both parties and stay focussed on the principle goals of the organisation. Major events such as the UCI Track Cycling World Cup are a great shop window for our sport, so we have to make sure we put on a good show. We hope to harness the inspiration of major events such as this to strengthen our existing programmes and deliver tangible benefits for cycling through all of our programmes, which have been successful in delivering increased participation for many years. The pressure certainly grows in the build-up to the event, but overcoming the pressure is also what makes the successful staging of the event so rewarding.

What are the best parts of your job?

Q A

The best part of my job is definitely when I get to competition day. After the many months of hard work it’s amazing to see the event you’ve been planning for so long finally in action. Last Friday I watched the men’s team pursuit final at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup London. I was standing at the top of the stands at the Lee Valley VeloPark looking out at a packed velodrome and listening to the deafening cheers of the crowd as the Great Britain team crossed

116 | Cycling World

the line to take gold. It’s times like this when you take a minute to think “wow, we did this” and that’s definitely the most rewarding part of my job.

Do you cycle? If so, what type of bike/s do you own?

Q A

Even though my role at British Cycling means I work in elite sport, you certainly couldn’t describe my cyclingabilities as ‘elite’ in any way. I do enjoy riding at the weekends for fun; however you won’t be seeing me hit the velodrome track at a world cup anytime soon!

How do you convince more women to take up cycling?

Q A

In April 2013, British Cycling launched an ambition to get one million more women cycling by 2020 and plans so far are on track. We know that British Cycling has a long journey ahead to change the culture of our sport but we are heading in the right direction with over 100,000 women participating in the sport governing body’s programmes last year. As an organisation, we recently introduced equal pay for men and women at major events and continue to look at ways to inspire more women to take

up racing. Our female Great Britain track cyclists receive the same level of coverage as men, with the successes of our younger female riders such as Laura Trott leading to considerable media following. That profile looks set to continue on the road to Rio adding to our confidence for a brighter future with participation in our youth development programmes split at almost 50/50 between boys and girls.

Q

What new strategies are we likely to see from British Cycling in 2015?

I don’t think you’re likely to see new strategies as such, as for us it’s about continuing with our plans to get more people cycling, while also supporting the Great Britain Cycling Team as the buildup to Rio 2016 continues. Next year will see the return of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in April, before major events such as the Women’s Tour and the Tour of Britain once again give us the high-profile platform to promote our sport. Interest has been increasing in these events in recent years, with millions of people viewing, either from the roadside of via the TV with improved broadcast coverage opening events to everincreasing audiences.

A

March 2017| 117

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118 | Cycling World

Prudential RideLondonSurrey 100 Sunday 30th July 2017 Entry fee £50 / Min. sponsorship £750

London to Paris Bike Ride 13th – 17th September 2017 Entry fee £125 / Min. sponsorship £1,560

Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia 18th – 28th November 2017 Entry fee £399 / Min. sponsorship £3,100 Join #teamICR today and help us defeat cancer.

Contact us to find out more.

0207 153 5307 sports@ICR.ac.uk icr.ac.uk/cycle

ICR.ac.uk/cycle icr-cyclist-HALF-FEB-2017.indd 1

A Charity. Not for Profit.

Company Limited by Guarantee.

Registered in England. No. 534147

08/02/2017 09:36

Gruelling cycle ride raises over £250,000 for cancer research

T

im Morgan was diagnosed with an advanced stage of bowel cancer in 2015. He underwent surgery and targeted therapies to try to combat the disease. He wanted to help shape future cancer treatments so that other bowel cancer patients may get new treatments sooner. To do this, he decided to raise money for the ICR, as it’s one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutes.

To achieve his fundraising goal, Tim took on an extraordinary challenge last April - a cycle ride pitched as one of the hardest events in the cycling calendar. This challenge was ‘the Dartmoor Demon’. At 90km long and with a total climb of 1600m it has been described as ‘potentially the hardest cycling sportive in the annual cycling calendar’. His amazing efforts raised over £250,000.

Tim grew up in Devon. Happy memories of tramping marshes, climbing tors and getting rained on were not dampened by the ride. With his intrepid team mates, Tim grappled short punchy climbs and long drawn out ascents.

The route took them through some of the south’s most glorious scenery as it skirted the Dartmoor National Park.

Tim said: ‘Following two big operations and several rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy I received a new targeted treatment which is the result of extensive and ongoing research. These kinds of discoveries are exciting and gamechanging and the ICR is a global leader in this field.

‘I’m so happy that the proceeds from this ride are now helping to fund research into personalised therapy and immunotherapy.’

Tim is just one of many people who get involved to raise funds for the ICR’s cancer research. Many like Tim are motivated by their own personal cancer experience, or that of their loved ones. Others want to help get treatments to people affected by cancer more quickly.

If you are interested in taking on a cycling challenge to support their work like Tim, they are offering places in the London to Paris cycle ride, Prudential Ride London Surrey 100 and Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia amongst others. For other options please visit www.icr.ac.uk/cycle .

You can support the ICR in many ways. The ICR offers a wide range of sports and challenges for people to get involved with their work. To find out how you can support their work and help them defeat cancer, see icr.ac.uk/ challenge or give them a call on 020 7153 5307.

March 2017| 119 Registered Charity Number 1151015

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Thank you very much for a once in a lifetime experience.

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120 | Cycling World

This New Year, take on a new cycling challenge

with British Cycling

How about trying a new challenge, A Sportive, Cycling World discovers more

S

o, it’s the New Year and you are looking to take on a new cycling challenge. How about trying a Sportive? From the thrill of being part of a group of riders, to discovering the many amazing cycling roads in Britain and making new friends along the way, Sportives offer all this and more!

The intermediate and advanced plans are designed for successful completion of a 100 mile Sportive event and for riders who already train specifically for sportive events, and may also be racing competitively. These plans are aimed at riders who already have a reasonable base of cycling fitness.

The first thing to do is choose the perfect event for you.

There are hundreds of events to choose from throughout the country, which can be found on the British Cycling Sportive calendar at www.britishcycling.org.uk/sportives.

HOW ARE THE TRAINING PLANS DELIVERED?

The next thing to do is start training for the event to ensure you are fully prepared. Fortunately British Cycling has free training plans available for any level of rider, beginner, intermediate and advanced. The British Cycling training plans can be found here www.britishcycling.org.uk/sportives The Beginners’ Training Plan is ideal for all novice cyclists who haven’t followed a structured training plan before or riders who want to get back to fitness after some time off the bike. If you’re targeting a 60- mile (100 km) sportive in the spring, the beginners’ plan is the perfect plan to achieve these goals.

An overview of each plan is given to allow you to see how it progresses and the commitment that you’re making.

The detailed sessions, on easy to view and printable single page documents, are delivered on the website in 4-week training blocks.

HOW MUCH TRAINING IS INVOLVED?

For the beginner plan the training weeks are broken down into three rides per week. There is also an optional bonus session for some off the bike training. Days can easily be swapped about to fit the plan around your life. Training hours vary between 3 hours and 7 hours 30 mins per week.

For the intermediate and advanced plans, the training weeks are broken down into three rides, two off the bike

March 2017| 121

Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel

Superbly located on the shore of Ullswater at the feet of the iconic Eastern Fells – home to High Street, Nan Bield Pass, Place Fell, and Boredale; offering both leisurely and extremely challenging mountain-biking in the magnificent Ullswater Valley.

Return to the luxurious comforts of Sharrow Bay after a day on the hills Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel, Ullswater, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2LZ

+44(0)1768 486301 | info@sharrowbay.co.uk | www.sharrowbay.co.uk

122 | Cycling World

Raglan Caravan Park is situated in the small peaceful oasis village of Ancroft, with views facing to the Cheviot Hills 5 miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Very convenient for the A1 yet in a peaceful, easy to find location. The park is a new site and has a high standard with showers and toilets, disabled facilities, and laundry room. We have 15 flat level pitches, some hardstanding, with electrical hook ups.We are a Camping and Caravan Club Certificated site, open to members and able to accommodate up to 5 caravans or motorhomes and an additional 10 tents or trailer tents. Nearby attractions include Holy Island, Bamburgh Castle and Alnwick Castle amongst many others. Close

by Ford and Etal Estate is excellent for exploring and also has a steam train and craft workshops.

Pot a Doodle Do, just to the South of Berwick on the glinting shore of the Northumbrian coastline is a great day out for families. The golf club at Goswick is highly rated one of the best links course in the North. There are many opportunities for walking and cycling with quiet roads leading directly from the park and Cycle Route 1 a short distance away heading along the Northumberland Coast. Our separate bunkhouse with three bedrooms has its own facilities and kitchen. There is a bus service from Ancroft into Berwick. We are open all year.

www.raglancottagecaravanpark.co.uk

01289 387422 | 07850 600441 info@raglancottagecaravanpark.co.uk

March 2017| 123

training sessions and two rest days. Days can be swapped to fit the plan around your life. Training hours start at around 7 hours per week and peak at 11 hours per week.

WHAT OTHER SUPPORT IS THERE?

“Aim to have your breakfast 90-120 minutes before you start riding. Porridge is the perfect pre-ride breakfast but, for longer rides, an additional 2-3 egg omelette will give you some more slow release energy”.

With each 4-week block, there are a series of support documents relevant to that training block designed to help you get the most out of your training. These include warm-ups, indoor sessions, fitness testing and training and nutrition advice. Our experts are also on hand to answer any training questions you may have while following the plans.

“Sip at your bottle right from the start of the ride. You should be aiming to consume 500-1000 ml of fluid per hour depending on your build and conditions”

CYCLING TIPS AND ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS

“Including non-cycling workouts in your training helps maintain motivation levels and allows you to develop a broader base of conditioning, making you more robust all round and reducing your injury risk”.

In addition to the supporting information of the training plans, you can also find numerous other articles on the site with information on all aspects of cycling. We have Great Britain Cycling Team coaches and backroom staff offering their expert advice on a range of topics including nutrition, training, and preventing injury, through to bike set-up, mechanics and many more.

Whether it’s a gruelling sportive or a long training ride in preparation for one, optimal nutrition is one of the key requisites for success. Team GB Nutritionist, Nigel Mitchell offers his advice to make sure you get your fuelling on the bike right. Here are few tips from Nigel.

Phil Burt, Lead Physiotherapist at British Cycling also offers his expertise, including tips on staying injury free, off the bike exercises and correct bike and equipment set-up.

Here are a few tips from Phil.

On saddle soreness: Even on flat rides, try to stand up out of your saddle every 10-15 minutes to give your backside a bit of a break and to restore some blood flow.

If you are looking for further expert tips and advice like this to help improve your riding, you can find them at www.britishcycling.org.uk/sportives

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COLUMBIA: The Old Cycling Nation Becomes More Cycle-friendly Cycling World

Ex-residents Steve and Anni Gregson catch up with old friends, try their aging legs on monumental climbs and check on children’s hospital equipment

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Puente la Negra cattle ranch, between Medellin and Puerto Berrio

From Chia, down, down, down at 33mph into a cauldron of heat for mile after mile round sweeping bends.

Cyclists " in heaven". However, we paid for it next day with 1000m of Rio Magdalena, sadly very low (El Nino/ global warming) and with only with their hand nets in Honda a hot, beautiful and historic colonial town. We had lived on the Magdalena in 1977-79 and come to love it.

Three days of hard climbing to 3500m, and over the Alto de Lettras Pass, with views west towards even higher mountains. Dogs are not so vicious in these parts and uplifting music played as we passed quiet homesteads perched precariously above steep of the many children's hospitals, the equipment was in good condition and really appreciated and we are shown a video and given a tour of the hospital by the Director. In the afternoon, a heavy shower and suddenly the 5000mt plus Nevada De Ruiz is clearly visible, but without snow this time of year.

Leaving Manizales, lots and lots of cyclists pass the hotel early in the morning, racers, mountain bikers of both sexes. Cycling is still going strong in the land of Cochise, Lucho and now Quintana, although nowadays often on MTBs with slicks and in the towns at and the heat of the day.)

MANIZALES TO MEDELLIN A dreaded tunnel. As we stopped to put on a rear light, a six-axled "tractomulle" slowed right down, held

passing through the dark tunnel and waving him onwards. How caring and professional are these kings of the

road, nowadays. In the afternoon, after yet another 1000m climb in 40C temps up to Rio Sucio, we are rewarded by using the room that Lucho Herrara had previously slept in. Perhaps some after all I do have photo of him and myself on a 200m long Essex hill. Later that evening we stumble across the Carnival del Virgen of Candalaria with running around in the sparks.

The next morning a visit to the Rio Sucio hospital where four FOCSA donated incubators were checked together with calibration, maintenance good working order.

Lots of climbs, gradients the usual 5%, then 7,9,10 even 11% and the heat 27C then 30,35,39,40, 42 and topping 43C in the sun. Good for losing weight 63kg, then 62,61… Great descents follow and we see small steel-wheeled trucks carrying bamboo, with their Flinstonesque brakes which are lorry tyre rubber stood on by the driver! We spend overnights at La Pintada and the lively hill town of Sta. Barbara where a terrace overlooks distant mountains and Rio Cauca before the long fast bendy descent to Medellin. There, six FOCSA equipment locations are visited as well as ex-racing friends from the late '70s.

Mechanicals so far: two tyre problemssolved with new Schwalbes; a broken brake cable but more time consuming was after a road-works where they let us sneak through but we rode over new, hot, wet tar which rose up 1cm with all the grit, glass etc. stuck to the tyre and still partly attached after a few days! An own goal but our old Raleigh and Hill Special 10 speed traditional tourers still going strong.

MEDELLÍN TO BARRANCABERMEJA: BACK POCKET NOTES Leaving the Dodgem Car racing that was Medellín, a run between buses, motos, taxis and bicycles took seventeen miles until open country and, what's this, a dedicated cycle path all the way to Barbosa. On to a cattle ranch stay after a windy, rolling day on a treelined road.

There, treated to a tour of natural swimming pools, breeding sheep and cattle plus a personal show of a mixture of ballet and brutality.

Sad news RIP- a dear Essex cycling friend. This was balanced out by the 'boy' himself born in our digs when we were ski instructors in 1969.

GB Speciall

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t 0430 the Baggage Reclaim area of Bogota airport was a quiet place to build up the bicycles before heading towards the centre on dedicated cycle-paths that dipped under junctions-"tricky to construct" said a civil engineer. On to a meeting and lunch with Friends of Colombia for Social Aid ( www.FOCSA.org.) President Maria Cristina. Our 9th Colombian tour was in order to ride again the wonderful mountain roads, to meet ex-BarrancaBermeja racing friends now spread out over the country and visit, check out and meet the users of hospital equipment used by Colombia's poorer children.

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126 | Cycling World At San Jose de Nus, how pleasant to sit beside the river enjoying a beer before a short day to Caracoli. Arriving in the afternoon, the submanagement declared the hospital 'Super- Happy' with the infants` medical equipment. The main street there is a riot of happy activity; trotting horses, card playing, motos weaving in and out of Sunday strollers. No helmets, no lights, no drunkenness. A Christmas spent there would be a treat. Another day of 3000ft climbing followed, half on unmade roads and a steepness we had not experienced until now, so we resorted to pushing the bikes.

In Puerto Berrio, the heat of the Rio Magdalena valley hit 37C, but the ferocious highway was second choice to a mini-train that works its way through low hilled ranches, its once a day timing dictated by the school run when English speaking travellers are quite a novelty. Surely one of life's great pleasures is to sit by an open rail carriage window on an inside bend watching the scenery go by.

'Welcome to Barrancabermeja. 35-40C ' says the sign. It is one of the hottest towns in Colombia, famously so, but once you get used to it, it gets under your skin with its friendliness and vitality.

Here we had a challenge to get the town hospital to request FOCSA equipment for infants. Four years ago we had failed. On to Puerto Wilches, a hotel, luxury and quite a quiet town. The Tienda Garabato is the centre of our evening relaxation.

Route to Cepita near Bucaramanga

The next day a visit to San Pablo but too many loud motos so we cross the river in a canoe and back to some luxury in Pto W. Then back to Barranca where we stay in the heritage Hotel Pipaton, once of ill repute. Leaving Barranca, after regular visits over the last 38 years since working there, it was with heavy hearts and lumps in our throats. Even at 43C would it be the last time?

Bucaramanga is a tough 78 miles and 1835m of ascent, what used to be a one-day ride is now (at our age) one day plus two half days. With air-con (Lizama) absolutely ringing wet, worse, it was raining heavily so we couldn’t even leave the poor road-side motel.

Cycling World

Stop Press- the Barranca hospital equipment for infants came through. False alarm! Nothing on the digital form! That's Barranca-frustrating. Also frustrating are Internet cafe computers which insist on translating everything, even the surnames on the 'send to' list.

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BUCARAMANGA AND AROUND Bucaramanga is surrounded on the south side by high mountains and the 30-mile climb towards Venezuelan border is popular on Sunday mornings with large numbers taking part. Certainly the 6% gradient is not hard and the 20 miles freewheel back from 2400m after a two-hour training session is most exhilarating.

Soon it was time to think of the next FOCSA hospital visit which was to Malaga but colleagues said the route was impossibly steep

Rio Sucio, a home-made truck carries bamboo

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T

he Pantasaph Franciscan Friary has been home to the Capuchins for 165 years and is conveniently located for cycling groups visiting North Wales. The Gothic architecture is impressive and the shrine gardens are tranquil. Surrounded by quiet roads, we are 5 miles away from Halkyn Mountain, offering easy roads and numerous off-road trails if desired. Or, for the brave, we are 11 miles from Moel Famau, where blue/ red grade trails can be found for an exciting ride in the heart of the mountain.

Pantasaph is also home to St Pio’s Café (www.stpioscafe.com), offering a warm welcome, great Italian coffee and heavenly fresh food and cakes. For group bookings call: 01352 711053.

Single Room Accommodation with showering facilities, towels and bike lock-up is also available to visiting cyclists for £30 per person. Please call 01352 711053. Advanced booking is required.

Bikers Retreat

Situated in the Snowdonia National Park close to Coed Y Brenin Bikers Retreat is ideally situated to satisfy the needs of both road riders and mtb riders

‘Our activity centres at Rhossili and Port Eynon provide fantastic accommodation for experiencing all that Gower has to offer, not to mention views that have to be seen to be believed. For over 30 years we have been providing activities, events, and education and pride ourselves on the experiences and memories that we help to create.

We work with schools, youth groups, families, commercial bookings and anyone that wants to experience our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.’

Trem Hyfryd Guest House Barmouth Road Dolgellau LL40 2SP 01341 423192

www.bikersretreat.co.uk

We provide large group self-catering accommodation on an exclusive hire basis.

Prices start from £15.00 + VAT per person per night (minimum numbers apply)

We provide adventurous outdoor activities all over Gower and its surrounding areas and can offer you the chance to experience a range of activities that have been designed to be safe, challenging and fun on the Gower Peninsula.

Our contact details are by telephone on 01792 390481 during office hours Monday to Friday or email on Goweractivitycentres@swansea.gov.uk

128 | Cycling World New Vic Theatre production

The story of the unsung sporting legend!

FRI 3 – SAT 18 MAR

Box Office: 01782 717962 newvictheatre.org.uk

New Vic Theatre, Etruria Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 0JG

Ideally situated in Thornhill, just north of Dumfries, The Buccleuch & Queensberry Arms Hotel is perfect for a good night’s rest after taking advantage of one of the regions many cycle routes. We have 14 bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms and a full Scottish or Continental breakfast is included in our rates. We have a mixture of twin and double rooms and for those traveling with dogs, we have garden cottages to the rear of the Hotel. We have one cottage available with self-catering facilities, please request to book.

The BQA offers great food, both in the relaxed hotel restaurant as well as the classic pub environment of the back bar. Our head chef, William Pottinger, takes great pride in serving up locally sourced and seasonal meals, meaning our menus always have new and exciting dishes on offer. After a long day on the road, why not sample one of the wines or many whiskys in our well stocked bar?

A short drive from the start of the 7 Stanes, and only 10 minutes from Drumlanrig Castle we are perfectly situated for cyclists of all abilities and genres.

The road cycling in and around the area is excellent, with Thornhill ideally located on many of the local routes.

After a long day on the bike we can offer some rest and relaxation in our cosy restaurant and bar, where you can sample some of the finest locally sourced produce.

We have secure bike storage facilities, washing and drying facilities and are more than happy to help you with information about the local area.

01848 323 101 www.bqahotel.com info@bqahotel.com

March 2017| 129 and rough. It was only when hard-riding Barranca had still not arrived and there was nowhere to stay that we took a bus trip with two Bucaramanga friends. Again the equipment at the hospital was well-appreciated.

The next day, it was back on two wheels for our into the Canyon Chicamocha (the second largest in the world) to Cepita, then half way up the other side before another plunge down into the canyon on a newly tarmacked (partly!) road left us exhilarated and wanting to spend an extra day in the interesting riverside village, but time was getting heavy rain had swept small rocks over the road so the ride up was nice and quiet, only two-wheeled There is plenty of history and decent accommodation in the Mogotes, Valle de San Jose and Chaharala area both boast recently tarmacked roads, so good progress was made in the high mountains until Barichara was reached. This town is now a popular tourist destination with Boutique Hotels. It also has an infants’ monitor in the small country 'hospital' which we had visited in 2013, away! It was still in good order and appreciated. The

Sunset over Rio Magdalena at Honda

Onwards then for three days in the most dramatic and unmade steep roads so far, and we had to ask where there was accommodation and food. After drop (1879m) and climb (1198m), there appeared a lone, US, young, female cycle-camper awaiting her friend who was six hairpins behind and walking.

Imagine our surprise, when after nine tours in Colombia, and only a handful of cycle tourists Austrian couple riding from Costa Rica to Tierra del Fuego! We must have spent a good two hours chatting. Onwards again, through fertile pastures to Bucaramanga and two more FOCSA equipment visits, a guitar concert, lunch and dinner invitations, best of all, meeting up with friends from 38 years ago. improved, no tummy upsets and we drank the natural delicious water-based fruit juices daily. longer do the oncoming vehicles overtake without considering us. Cycling is alive and well, although there are more mountain bikes and a lot of riding the streets in the dark (with lights) when they are quiet. Accommodation is better than ever. The economy is booming, thus there are many more -'motos' and less walking, but this has a health downside. Beautiful Colombia is a real bargain for tourists and with improved security you would not be disappointed.

punctures, seven other cycle tourists met which is more than in all our nine previous tours put together!

San Jose del Nus

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130 | Cycling World

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March 2017| 131

FILM REVIEW

BATTLE MOUNTAIN Graeme Obree’s Story Review by Helen Hill

The leads back to his kitchen where only Graeme Obree would cover his table with spanners, hack saws and plumbing tools upon a table cloth of plans for his ‘Beastie.’ There is a reference to the washing machine that formed part of his infamous hour record bike but this time he chooses an old saucepan and some rollerblades from the charity shop as parts for this home-grown record

backs to his breaker. There are world champion days on Old Faithful and the rivalry between him and Chris Boardman.

It is moving to see the bond between him and his sons as they devise ways to overcome the problems associated with building this machine. There are regular references to his family and how he and his late brother used cycling to escape from bullying by local children. There are shots of him training on his bike showcasing Scotland’s beautiful scenery and of Graeme talking about how he has coped with depression and his realisation that once you have tried to kill yourself you then have to appreciate being alive.

There is a real sense that he is now in a much better place than he was in the past.

The ‘Beastie’ begins to take shape in both his mind and in practice as he goes out onto the road to try it out. They then task of designing the have the outer shell. The attempt doesn’t properly and has to be held together with continues to show the duct tape. The progress with a countdown to the day of the record attempt. They are beset with problems, including a severe health setback but the shows his grit and determination to pull success from the jaws of failure. He is a man obsessed with getting it right, and achieving something not just for himself but for friends and family that put so much faith and into his project. will appeal to a wide This audience, the cyclists amongst us as

Director: David Street Production: Journey Pictures Ltd Released: 01/04/2016 Duration: 104 mins No Rating. Suggest 10+

well as engineers, designers and psychologists as it is a fascinating insight into how the mind works and man’s ability to solve and overcome problems.

Illuminating for those who know Obree, inspiring for those who want to meet the man.

April 2016

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raeme Obree’s challenge to beat the human powered speed record as well as his own challenge to beat his demons contentment. For anybody who and is a fan of Obree this gives a real insight into how his mind works. He is obviously an amazingly talented guy from both a technical and a cycling point of view. The starts with the journey through Nevada to Battle Mountain, weather somewhat similar to Scotland and Graeme Obree saying “if you are a tiger among animals, you might be a slightly aging tiger, slightly less able tiger, but you are still a tiger among animals, the thing is the stop watch doesn’t care what age you are; the power meter doesn’t care what age you are, that speed trap doesn’t care what age you are and I know that I have still got the ability to do it.” This sets the scene for the forthcoming event. Graeme’s singlemindedness, which carries us is summed up in his through the early comment about travelling at 90 mph with your nose just 6cm from the tarmac and it being quite exciting. An understatement to the rest of us but just a normal event the world which he shares with us.

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132 | Cycling World

INSPIRING YOUNG ADVENTURERS Interview with Graeme Obree

By Helen Hill

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raeme Obree is often described as a maverick, but with an exceptional talent for making the extraordinary out of the ordinary! I had the pleasure of interviewing this illustrious man.

Battle Mountain: Graeme Obree’s Story went on general release on 1st April. It has already been previewed at the Edinburgh Film Festival and received great acclaim. We talked about the making of the film and life in general.

Helen: First of all I’d like to say that my son and I were watching the film and he was very impressed that you had a vice on the kitchen table.

Graeme: Yes not something I would recommend, there is still dust everywhere!

Helen: When did you get the idea for the film and when did you start filming?

Graeme: 2011 I first got the idea. I wanted to use my physical fitness, building stuff and innovation to inspire young people in the modern era rather than do something that’s last century. That was my main remit.

Cycling World

Helen: Inspiring young people; why and how?

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Graeme: I live in this small coastal town, there’s not much left for young people to do.

I can either hideaway or not. There were some scouts collecting money and I was thinking you need to go and talk to school kids. These kids are living in an area where there is not much hope. I can give them the idea that you can actually do

March 2017| 133 something for yourself. You can either succeed or fail at this thing of getting a record but it is okay to suggest you can try something and fail, you don’t need to be afraid of doing something in case you fail. It’s a win, win situation, if I didn’t get the record but I gave it my best shot, I did something. I didn’t achieve the target I wanted, but that’s okay so that’s a good measure to kids. There was no losing in this.

Helen: I love the fact that you did this in your kitchen, there were no major sponsors. There’s a real homespun feel about it!

Graeme: That was the whole remit from the start to show that you can do something on your own, you don’t need to rely on being part of something you just have to make the opportunity. If you get an idea just do it. Young people hold back.

Helen: My son loved the fact that you took some items from the kitchen – your saucepan! And you made it into a part for the bike.

Graeme: When I was a kid I dreamed of being an explorer but nowadays kids can’t dream anymore because you can get everything on Google Earth. What can kids aspire to when it has all been done and you just become a tiny cog in a huge machine? If you have an idea just do it. We live in a disposable society, somebody makes something for you; you use it and throw it away. We now live in a things, we don’t make generation where we don’t things, we just go to the supermarket and get another one.

I wanted to show them that there is more than that. the whole idea that it Helen: That came across in the is possible to reuse, recycle and reduce our impact on the planet.

Graeme: We are the generation that have destroyed the planet. I think young people think more about their impact than we do. obsession with speed come

Graeme: It wasn’t an obsession with speed, it was about achievement. It came about when I was on a bike and seventeen. I didn’t think I was going to amount to anything. I felt my worth and value as a human being was totally based on what I could achieve. My state of mind was conditional on my sense of achievement.

Helen: You then went on to achieve great things with your hour records and becoming world champion. You are Did you do a lot of training for the obviously still very human-powered speed record?

Graeme: I still train on a regular basis. I use the hills and my race circuits as a measure of my If I can still go up a hill in a certain gear at a particular speed then I know doesn’t really show it but that I am doing alright. The I was training and then staying up until 2 o’clock in the morning making the shell for human powered machine so by the time I got on the plane to America I was exhausted.

Helen: Quite an achievement!

Graeme: Thank you very much. From a starting point of where I was, basically I went and built something on my own, a bit like the person who set the record in the place. It was proper 1980s – let’s go and build a bike. My

own concept and then go for the prone world record. It was extremely low tech.

Helen: Do you think you will go back and try and beat that record?

Graeme: Absolutely not. I am done with any kind of record breaking?

Helen: Have you got any other project on the go at the moment?

Graeme: I have a project of my own which is a design idea.

I see things that don’t work very well and I come up with an idea to do it better, design-wise. There are a couple of things that I want to make prototypes for and then go and take them round manufacturers. I am also writing a book called ‘Enough’ about my journey from where I was to where I am now. From the blackest moments to now, when I am not on medication, feeling content and in a good place. I also still enjoy riding my bike; it’s one of the things that is central to me, that feeling of fresh air in my lungs and making the most of the beautiful countryside.

Graeme is showcasing the beautiful area he lives in by holding a Sportive called ‘The Flying Scotsman Sportive’ on Saturday 20th August.

Many thanks to Graeme for talking to Cycling World

April p i 20 6

Helen: Where did your from?

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Ibiza coming of age to cyclists David Oxberry, professional photographer and keen cyclist, shares the beauty of the island through the lens and upon the saddle

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On the first day riding on the island we are scheduled to link up with Lawrence Dallaglio and his group of riders on the penultimate stage of the 2016 Dallaglio Foundation Cycle Slam. We meet them at over 1600 kilometres into their adventure, having set off from San Sebastien 17 days earlier via the Pyrenees, Girona and Majorca. At the start line for today's stage the talk amongst the riders is of tired legs and sore heads. Ahead of us is a 135km circuit of the island which some of the team are tackling on 45-minutes sleep, having spent the previous night enjoying Ibiza's other attractions. But there is serious motivation powering these legs. Dallaglio's foundation has raised well over £10 million since he started it eight years ago and this year's ride is already set to add significantly to that target. Past rides have raised money for Cancer Research and Great Ormond Street but on this occasion they are raising money solely for Dallaglio's own social inclusion charity Rugby Works.

50 riders of varying degrees of fitness head out of Ibiza Town's port, many of whom have donated tens of thousands of pounds for the opportunity to ride with Dallaglio on all or part of this epic. This morning we are led by Austin Healey who looks every inch the cyclist, now in his retirement from Rugby. As he's proved recently, he's still pretty light on his feet and he tells me later he regularly puts in between 200 and 300 miles a week. The gentle climb out of Ibiza Town is quite busy with traffic but the green hills that promise quieter riding look tantalisingly close and it's only a few minutes before we find ourselves on more cycle-friendly roads.

We’re heading North West but soon the rolling olive groves give way again to the island's alter ego and Santa Eularia des Riu comes into view. Ibiza’s third town Santa Eularia offers a touch of Ibiza Town's old world charm but one of the first beach front signs I see is offering “A Live Lizard Show”. I don't have much time to consider what this might entail before we are pushing upwards again into quieter climbs on our way to Cala San Vincent. Again the comparison with Majorca comes to mind as both islands share a cove beach named San Vincent in their North West quarter. Both these beaches are nestled into the edge of the wildest and hilliest part of their respective islands. And everything about the topography of Ibiza is similar to Majorca's,

just on a smaller scale. Despite that and with the increasing morning heat, the climb to Sant Joan de Labritja is still feeling pretty arduous but the backdrop now is much more desirable. Twisting tree-lined roads that snake upwards, away from the coast to more remote locations. Sant Joan de Labritja is ‘real’ Ibiza; quiet churches, small cafes and deserted streets. Cafe Gard du Nord provides the mid-morning coffee and a chance to meet and chat with some of the other riders. Amongst them Marc Giusti, founder of Veloforte, is sharing out his delicious Panforte-based riding bars and they were much appreciated, especially since the cafe had run out of cake!

Although we were refuelled, the climb out of the village was very steep and after just five minutes everyone took the opportunity to stop again and admire the view as reward for our efforts. Now we were on single-width back lanes but the road surface was by no means Majorcan billiard smooth and the descent into Portinatx splits the group as many take it easy to ensure their dentures stay in place.

Portinatx is a more restrained affair by Ibizan standards and I see no reptilianbased entertainment on offer as we flash past. We push on through this quieter part of the island and the group begins to splinter as the stronger riders decide to forge ahead and I find myself in a group of five at the front, led by Austin Healey who has ridden on the island before.

Cold drinks are now in order as the temperature makes coffee a less appealing option, so we stop in Cafe Can Cosmi in the tiny village of Santa Agnes de Corona.

One of the support vehicles finds us to let us know the main group are a long way back. It’s decided we should press on, with still a third of the ride to cover. Mercifully we just skirt the environs of San Antonio and possibility of more reptilian-based entertainment on our way South, in search of a very late lunch. The roads are busy again now and a chain gang of sorts forms between the five of us. My stints at the front are short, which I put down to the four kg of camera equipment I have on my back. We fly past Tropicana Beach Club, which seems like a missed opportunity when Andrew Ridgeley is making up one of the five-strong group, but we continue on in search of a recommendation.

Finally, we reach Restaurant Sa Caleta overlooking Platja d'es Bol Nou and it is well worth the wait. Exactly the kind of badly signposted dead end that you dream of stumbling upon. A perfect cove overlooked by a great restaurant serving delicious Paella to a laid-back local crowd.

A little too much rosé is consumed over a long lunch but everyone has made the mental calculation about how hard we've

August 2016

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t is said of the Balearic Islands that they are like jealous siblings and Ibiza certainly has qualities similar to her big sister and more popular cycling destination Majorca. Ibiza is looking enviously at Majorca’s booming cycle tourism and hoping to emulate some of its success by offering similar attractions, albeit on a smaller scale.

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138 | Cycling World already worked and how comparatively little there is still to go. Fortunately the final run back into Ibiza Town is kind to us, if a little on the busy side.

A great day's riding in good company, and I’m starting to warm up to the idea of Ibiza as a cycling cousin to Mallorca.

Day two finds us guided by Simon Rose who runs Velo Club Ibiza. Now a resident of the island, Simon offers tours and bike hire. We head out this time from San Antonio and are quickly on quiet rural roads a world away from the bustling bars and beaches of the town. It’s clear Simon knows these roads intimately as we track quickly into some lovely locations, deserted smooth roads, rolling hills and distant sea views. Here the obstacles are less likely to be road humps but more likely wandering goats that slow our progress. This carefully curated route is much more the kind of satisfying riding the island will sell itself on.

Cycling World

The morning coffee stop comes via Cafe Can Tixedo.

Its location on a crossroads might suggest it would be busy but I count only two cars that pass by as we enjoy our coffee in the sunshine. Next up we whistle through one of the island's vineyards. Can Rich de Buscastell opens its doors for tasting the island's wine but today that will have to wait until the end of the ride.

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Another advantage of a guided ride is that often there are gems just a few metres from the roadside that would easily be missed by following your GPS. Simon brings us to a halt in a wooded area and we dismount and walk for a few metres through the trees until we find ourselves atop the 150 metre cliffs. These overlook Ses Balandres cove, which in turn looks out over Ses Margalides, a rocky sea arch which is possible to take your boat through and is very popular with divers. The cove itself is accessible via a rickety wooden ladder and then a bit of a clamber but we decide that, wearing cycling cleats, it might not be the best idea today. Things might have been different if I’d been bolstered by

that wine stop.

Inevitably we have to leave the beautiful rural Ibiza and roll back into San Antonio. But the day has a final treat in store when we keep going through San Antonio and on to Port d'es Torrent, a little gem of a beach on the outskirts of the town that is well worth the extension to the ride. There we find the Imagine Beach Bar and we don't use much of our own imagination to order up another Paella for four with a jug of Sangria. Never let it be said that I do not immerse myself in the customs and cuisine of wherever I’m cycling!

Day three is a different approach and Velo Club Ibiza's hire partners Kandani Bikes meet us to swap our Orbea Orca road bikes for MTBs. The Orca - Spain's own race machine - has been a fantastic companion. A very stiff bottom bracket area has made the most of my efforts and the geometry handled descending on the mountainous roads extremely well. Mountain bikes, on the other hand, are often a great way to find the path less travelled and so it proves on Ibiza. We start in the coastal backyard of Cirque du Soleil owner Guy Laliberte, who has built his own Stonehenge-like folly on the rocks outside his seafront home from 420 tonnes of Basalt. We continue on the coastal path, past isolated coves populated by the odd naturist and continue following the sea. The terrain is always rideable, if a little bumpy, and once again the bicycle proves a wonderful way to see a different part of the Island.

This trip was organised by Easyjet who now offer a range of cycle-specific holiday packages in nine European locations including Majorca and Andorra. The packages can include cycle-friendly hotels with storage, access to hire bikes and guides such as Velo Club Ibiza. Prices start from around £142 per person, based on seven nights on a room- only basis at the three-star Marco Polo in Andorra, departing from London Gatwick.

Guided ride and bike hire provided by Veloclubibiza.com

March 2017| 139

Supported and catered road cycling holidays Based in Morzine in the sunning French Alps Running from June till September 2017 Choose from either 4 or 7 days, stay in comfortable chalet accommodation, and explore the most famous cols in the area. Follow in the footsteps of the Tour, Etape and Dauphine riders over the Col de Joux Plane, Col de la Ramaz and many more.

Prices from ÂŁ295 per person including FREE airport transfers.

Get in touch to find out more.

140 | Cycling World

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he Fireside Inn is located in Breckenridge on the Trans America Cycle route and the Great Divide bike trail. The Inn is a B&B and hostel offering a variety of accommodations from a suite, rooms with private bathrooms, and dorm beds with shared bathrooms.

Owners Andy and Niki welcome singles, couples, and families.

Conveniently located two blocks from Main Street in the historic district of Breckenridge, the Fireside Inn is a short walk from exceptional places to eat, drink, shop and relax.

Activities The Summer in Breckenridge offers an extensive trail network for mountain biking and road cycling around Summit County in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. From world class events like Firecracker 50 to the local Wednesday night races that are a mix of fun and friendly competition. The Breck Epic is the ONLY 6 Days – Stage race in Breckenridge which attracts cyclists from all over the world. Or consider the Breck 100, part of the Rocky Mountain Endurance Series - Climb over 13,719 vertical feet over 100 miles. Take time out from cyling and go fishing, horse back riding, white water rafting, play golf or ride the Gold runner roller coaster in the Peak 8 fun park.

Breckenridge is a world famous winter destination where you can downhill ski, snowboard, snow shoe, cross country or fat bike in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Or enjoy a sleigh or snowmobile ride on the continental divide.

www.firesideinn.com fireside@colorado.net (970) 453-6456

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Training and Nutrition:

Climb Well

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

A

GB Special

frequent question I receive is “how do I improve my climbing”? With the Tour of Britain happening this month, it seems pertinent to address the specific issue of improving climbing on UK, rather than mountainous European, gradients…. you don’t find climbs of 1 hour at 6-7% gradient in Britain, they are shorter and steeper!

The first thing to consider is the amount of weight that has to be transported uphill. At an elite racing level, power-to-weight is the crucial factor in races with any significant climbing: advances in training methods mean that the top riders are at a similar physical level to each other, and all but the smallest gains in power are difficult to attain through training alone.

Cyclists have always been lean, and followed strict diets in order to improve, but recently the term “watts-per-kilo” has been synonymous with success. This magic number – over 6.2 W/Kg for a top TDF rider on a 30:00-40:00 climb – can be improved by gaining a few watts…or by losing a few kilos.

So W/Kg is the name of the game at the top of the game, but even when dealing with a recreational rider just wanting to go that bit quicker up the hills I always come back to this obvious “coaching point”: if you are enjoying a bit too much of your own company, you will not cheat gravity!! Similarly, if you already watch what you eat but are riding a bike where the wheels weigh more than the rest of the machine…reduce the rotating weight by upgrading the hoops, you should notice a significant difference.

Standing up vs sitting down? Well, the smart answer would be sitting down and spinning a lower gear, and that would certainly be better for longer climbs…but in the 80s the Tour of Britain featured a climb known as Rosedale Chimney in North Yorkshire, and it’s 33% sections reduced some of the peloton to walking - even a fit rider will need to be able to climb standing up on 20% plus British slopes in order to keep moving.

So – how do you improve? Find a hill, one that always challenges you. Have a good warm up. Over 40? Have 45 seconds warm up for each year of your age, including 3 x 6 second “jumps” at around 90% effort. Aim to ride the hill 3 times the first time you do this session. Alternate in and out of the saddle – stay 15-20 bpm (beats per minute) below your max heart rate until 45 seconds from the top. At that point go at 100% to the top. The best way to do this on a shallower climb is to sit and rev hard in your lowest gear: on a steeper climb do this part out of the saddle on a bigger gear. Make sure that you have at least 3 x the time it took you to climb the hill as recovery – a 2:00 climb would have 6:00 recovery, next time reduce the recovery/add to the reps. If you can do 5 reps, then you are not working hard 155 enough….and twice a week is absolutely all you need for this session. May the road rise to meet you……

142 | Cycling World

My First Taste

of Italy Cycling World Editor can’t believe he’s never been to Italy, so visits Emilia Romagna, and discovers the “land with a soul, people with a smile”

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ycling in Emilia Romagna lived up to its promise: riding through this

soul and riders’ smiles mirrored the locals’. Emilia Romagna is welcoming cyclists, and a network of bike-friendly hotels. The that they have given rise to the region’s own Granfundo. This was the main purpose of my visit, I had been invited to take part in Granfundo degli Squali, a long and everrising race come sportive. As well as cycling there is a wide cultural diversity with the joys of the Adriatic coast, which features the wellknown coastal resort Rimini, and an interior known for its Romanesque and Renaissance cities such as Modena, Parma and Ferrara.

May is the perfect month to discover the region, pleasantly warm with a rolling

Cycling World

hues. Our guides were from Terrabici, a consortium of local professionals from the cycle tourism industry. Their mixture of

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come might bring rain, led to an ambitious day of riding: 65 miles with 1370 metres of climbing. We set out from the coastal town of Cattolica where we staying and headed northwest along the coast to Riccione. It was serenely quiet; though warm by UK standards, still not beach weather for the sun-loving Italians. There was evidence of what the high season would bring; the beaches are covered in uniformly laid out umbrella stands and children’s plastic playparks. May is certainly one of the last opportunities to speed along a soon-to-be heaving sea front.

After Riccione we took an inland route zigzagging through the interior, leaving the coastal plains behind as we started to climb in the Marecchia valley. Great spurs of rock can be seen overlooking the riverbed, upon which stands Verucchio, a town dating back to the ninth century, though it is its medieval layout that remains today. After an all-to-speedy descent we ground up a long climb

reaching an impressive height of over 650 metres. We climbed for so long that we had literally risen out of Italy into the independent republic of San Marino. San Marino is known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino and is an enclaved microstate.

It’s claim to fame is having the smallest population (32,000) of all the members of the Council of Europe. It also claims to be the oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world being the continuation of the monastic community founded in 301. Our guide Andrea, under a cloud of jealously, informed us of its highly stable economy, one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, no national debt and a budget surplus. Then slightly bitterly he told he told us they paid much less in tax and the women rarely married men from outside the region. Despite the a bride and living in tax-free bliss, we still enjoyed the impressive architecture and a Our ride homewards was mainly hair-raising descents, through narrow serpentine roads that demanded our attention to be drawn from mesmerising landscapes. The gravityled rhythm was interrupted by a climb to the village of Montescudo, nestled on a ridge separating the plain of Rimini from the route leading to the Apennine Mountains. It is an

Riviera. We moved quickly on, swooping down to the river clutching road below, then knocking out a good club run pace along the For our second day we requested something a bit lighter, needing to keep something in our legs for the Granfundo of the following day. So today was just a mere 36-miler which still encompassed 790m of climbing. We headed northeast along the coast straight into the climb of Gabicce Monte, which some descents which could not be enjoyed in the usual manner- we knew the next

March 2017| 143 Always cycling in good company

Back in Italy from San Marino

GB Special

A tapestry of greens

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144 | Cycling World

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amous for its incredible Georgian architecture built of local limestone, Bath’s crescents, streets and terraces are easily explored by bicycle. And to find out more about the Georgian lifestyle in Bath’s 18th century heyday, step into the past at No. 1 Royal Crescent, one of England’s finest Georgian townhouses, and experience what life was like for Bath’s rich and fashionable residents – both above and below stairs.

Inside the house you will find 10 Display Rooms, a Georgian-style shop, a free Information Room and special exhibitions in the Brownsword Gallery. The ten rooms are staffed by incredibly well informed and friendly room guides and we also have Children’s Activity Packs and Dressing-up for our younger visitors.

As well as the world famous No. 1 Royal Crescent, Bath Preservation Trust runs three other fascinating museums and there are joint ticket discounts to help you explore more.

If you are looking to discover the story behind the elegant architecture of Bath then the Museum of Bath Architecture is a must-see. Located at the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, itself an unusual and historic building, here is the only museum that explores the creation of this World Heritage City.

The influences of classical design are explored and building techniques explained, alongside models revealing the

construction of an 18th century townhouse. Old maps show how the city has grown, and the famous Bath Model offers an incredible insight into the development of the Georgian City.

Beckford’s Tower is an elegant, golden-topped neo-classical tower on Lansdown Hill, a good pull uphill from the city centre for cyclists. The Tower was built in 1827 as a retreat for the brilliant writer and eccentric William Beckford.

Born to great wealth and endowed with precocious talent Beckford created magnificent buildings in which to store his extraordinary art, furniture and book collections. Today the tower houses a museum dedicated to Beckford.

Finally, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy at 19 New King Street is a delightful and unique example of a fully restored modest Georgian townhouse. It was home to the astronomer and musician William Herschel and his sister Caroline. Particularly evocative features include Herschel’s workshop, his music room and a charming 18th Century formal garden where, with a telescope of his own construction, Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781.

2017 is a perfect time to visit Bath as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Crescent with a series of special events, exhibitions, talks and activities across our museums. For more information on all our museums go to www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk and follow the links to each museum.

March 2017| 145 day these would be testing climbs at the end of an exhausting ride.

Fortunately, we were distracted by a climb to Castello di Gradara, a medieval fortress located in the region of Marche. Our base Cattolica is conveniently located on the border of this neighbouring region, with is divergent yet equally pleasant delights. The castle is one of the most visited monuments in the region, no doubt due to the legend that the castle was the scene of the famous and tragic love story of Paolo and Francesca, caught in each other’s arms and killed by Gianciotto, Francesca’s husband. This love story was immortalized by Dante in his Divine Comedy.

Snow globes and fridge magnets safely nestled in pockets bulging with energy bars, our group moved swiftly on, passing the private race track of Valentino Rossi, Italian professional motorcycle racer and nine-time winner of the Grand Prix World Championships. We were headed to a much-talked about wine tasting at a local winery.

Family owned, one of the sons had actually joined us for the day’s ride, am extremely tall, skinny man; built like a pro and boasting that wine. He led us to an area called Croce di Montecolombo where his family’s Agrituristica Fiammetta, with its vineyards and olive groves, introduced to his family, discovering that the Fiammetta wines are all named after his mother- a typical Italian touch in a family business.

Wine tasting in Italy, much to the delight of famished cyclists, is actually a great food fest. Each wine has to be enjoyed with its own particular nourishing partner, be it local cured meats, freshlymade cheese, the farm’s own olive

C cl ng World

almond cake. Polite acceptance and a curiosity to know regional natural produce overcomes the more temperate thoughts of descending unknown potholed roads under the

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and furious, no doubt due to the high sugar content found in wine.

The third day was the main event: The Gran Fundo degli Squali, which means shark as the event starts at Cattolica’s aquarium. Now in its second year, the event attracts 2000 riders due to its challenging hilly routes in a beautiful landscape at a time when the heat is nourishing rather than energy-sapping. There is an ironically-named short course of 84km and 3770ft of climbing, but wishing to eke out as much

as possible from my short time here, I opted for the 136km route with a challenging 7380ft of ascent.

Writing about such events is almost as challenging as riding them. You get into race mode, bury the head and pedal, oblivious to the names yourself to take the time to glance sideways to enjoy the landscape you are eating up. I know I should stop and take pictures, but there are points when I fear that if I stop pedalling I might seize up and never start again. Food stops could be opportunities to meet the locals and fellow riders, but all you actually do is load calories and get moving again.

I hope I’m not portraying the ride as an ordeal because though challenging, it was a luxurious route with dramatic views that I did take the trouble to enjoy, and even photograph, before embarking on ridiculously fast descents, followed by further long, gruelling climbs. In fact, I blame my savouring of the ride and three banquet style food stops on the way for my 136th out of 138 placing in my age cat of VET2, ride time of 6.25.15.

The route was a well-signed jaunt through the interior with excellent road closure and junction control.

Gradara, it led to a 20km climb to Mont Monte Altevelio. After a rapid decent to Casinina, it climbed again to Urbino, then rollercoasting with climbs to Montefabbri, Montegridolfo, Fiorenzuola di Focara and then climbing to the bitter end of Gabicce Monte.

I arrived so near the end that they were removing barriers and packing away the pilchard party; though must confess that partying and eating pilchards was the last thing on my agenda. Plastic medal sporting a grinning shark around my neck, I was thankfully welcomed by some Canadian ride buddies from the previous days. Rehydrated by our varying means, mine being just water feeling queasy after overconsuming sports drinks, we rolled down the hill to a welcoming meal and jacuzzi at our cycling-themed hotel.

Most probably sleep or celebrate with numerous beers, but I get to play in the empty plastic playgrounds littering the beaches, having made this into a family holiday. I do so joyfully, using climbing frames to do some stretching. Non-riding time was wonderful family time; riding hire bikes to soak up local delights, be it history, scenery or food and wine.

Cobbled climbs of Castello di Gradara

146 | Cycling World

BIKE HOTELS Italy, and Emilia Romagna in particular, has a network of Bike Hotels and Sport Hotels. We stayed at the Hotel Europa Bike Friendly: the hotels can arrange hire of good quality road some with child seats. There was a secure bike storage area with tools and a maintenance stand and excellent free maps of suggested circular routes.

Wellness: family comfort catered for with a heated pool, including a kids’ pool, an indoor and outdoor jacuzzi, spa area with sauna and Turkish bath and a gym.

Food: Fresh, regional and healthy. A very impressive breakfast

Castello di Gradara

and fresh salad at lunch and dinner. It’s healthy fuel for your riding.

Family: A well-equipped indoor kids’ play area, with supervised hours in the day. Children’s pool and a 4,000m2 area of allocated beach. www.europamonetti.com

GB Special

Somewhere in the Granfundo

169 Cattolica, sunny days to come

Hotel Europa Monetti

March 2017| 147

THE SCOTTISH CENTRE

Discover Scotland’s Iron Age! Celebrating 20 years of Living History “Unique, Authentic, Award-Winning, Interactive and Simply Amazing!”

We bring the past to life for all ages.

WWW.CRANNOG.CO.UK

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ake a well-earned break from the saddle at The Scottish Crannog Centre at Kenmore, by Aberfeldy on Sustrans Route 7.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the five-star award-winning heritage centre welcomes cyclists of all ages to immerse themselves in the exciting prehistory of Loch Tay. Costumed guides take you on a journey to discover life as an Iron Age loch-dweller: sit in the home of a Celtic family and learn how these clever people made the most of their surroundings and lived their daily lives.

Built as an archaeological experiment and based on discoveries by underwater archaeologists, the thatched roundhouse is a 'living museum on the water'. It overlooks the remains of 4 of the 18 ancient crannog settlements preserved in the loch, with the picturesque village of Kenmore to the east and stunning views towards Ben Lawers and Killin to the west.

A visit to the Centre includes an exhibition featuring some of the 2,500 year old artefacts recovered from the loch, talks in the Crannog roundhouse, demonstrations and hands-on experience of ancient crafts and technologies including the magical fire-making without matches!

Gift-shop; refreshments; secure bicycle park and storage of your backpacks. Open daily from 01 April to 31 October 2017 from 10am to 5.30pm.

If you don’t have time to do a full tour, just pop in for a coffee while enjoying the most defining and iconic view in Perthshire!

www.crannog.co.uk

01887 830 583 info@crannog.co.uk Kenmore, Loch Tay Perthshire, PH15 2HY

148 | Cycling World

Sa Calobra, a Mecca for cyclists

March 2017| 149

Mallorca S T E P H E N

R O C H E

Roger Stillman, photographer and journalist, rides with his cycling legend and learns the benefits of an organized cycling camp as he tours the island

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S T Y L E

tephen Roche is my cycling hero. It was his heroics on La Plagne on stage 21 of the 1987 Tour de France that captivated the fifteen-year-old me, glued to Channel 4’s coverage as Roche emerged from the low cloud to cross the summit just behind his main rival, Pedro Delgado, when it was assumed he was way back losing precious time. It was this incredible effort that ultimately secured the yellow jersey in Paris four days later. 1987 was his imperious year when he claimed the triple crown of the Giro, Tour de France and World Champion. So, when the opportunity arises to travel to Mallorca for a three-day training camp with his cycle tour company ‘Stephen Roche Cycling’, I jump at the chance.

150 | Cycling World Stephen Roche gliding up the Puig Major

Goodbye saddlebag and stuffed pockets, hello support car

DAY 1

It’s an early start but it’s a real pleasure to stroll out of the hotel post-breakfast into the awaiting minibus, with the bikes loaded in the attached trailer. At the rendezvous point is the official support car, looking the business with spare bikes and wheels on the roof rack, the boot crammed with energy drinks, snacks and spare parts.

There are three groups available to ride in: fast, medium and leisurely, differing in average speed and distance. With fresh legs, I’ve opted for a fast group today and booked into the optional Sa Calobra ride - one of the island’s most renowned climbs, famously used by Team Sky as a training ground before Bradley Wiggins’ triumphant 2012 Tour de France.

Our ride captain, Andreu, has lived in Mallorca all his life and knows these roads intricately. It’s an easy 25km spin on flat roads to warm up and we ease through the sleepy villages and farmland in the warmth.

It’s late October and both my bike and mindset have long since converted to UK winter mode: mudguards, fourseason tyres, winter clothing and cold dark mornings.

Arriving to a bright and warm Mallorca after a short flight from London Stansted is a pleasant jolt to the system; I can’t wait to get out on the bike.

As a fairly frequent traveller to Southern France with my bike in tow, I find it hard to shake the anxiety of ‘will my bike be carbon dust by the time I re-open the case.’

No such worries here, a bike is included in the price.

On arriving at the hotel, I’m directed to the dedicated mechanics garage, where my ride awaits. It’s a very decent Pinarello Razha, carbon monocoque frame with geometry designed for long-distance riding. I’d already emailed my current bike set up measurements which have all been carefully dialled in so I just hand over my pedals and I’m good to go.

The cycling camp operates from the four-star Ponent Mar Hotel in Palmanova, just a twenty-minute drive from Palma airport. The package includes half-board and there is a dedicated eating area set up for all the cyclists.

On the first evening we gather for dinner, the group are a mixture of young and old, male and female; a very amiable bunch. It’s a good opportunity to meet and chat about the upcoming rides. We’re joined by the man himself, Stephen Roche pops down to say hello and give us insights into the climbs; he will be riding with us too. The fifteen-yearold me is very excited at sharing the road with the cycling legend, as is the 40year old M.A.M.I.L! (M.A.M.I.L stands for ‘Middle-Aged Man in Lycra’ for those lucky enough not to be familiar with the term.)

Gradually the landscape changes and towering granite outcrops begin to appear on the horizon. It’s not long before we begin the first climb of the day, the Coll de Soller. Andreu tells us it’s his favourite climb in the area.

It’s a manageable average gradient of 6% through pine forest with 61 hairpins to negotiate. I settle into a steady rhythm, keeping the heart rate in a ‘still able to chat’ zone.

There’s a fast descent back to sea level before the next climb, Puig Major. At 854m it's the highest climb on the island. It’s fairly long at 8km but averaging 6% means it’s possible to spin up. I’m grateful for the compact chainset and 32t largest cog the bike comes fitted with.

Approaching Puig Major

March 2017| 151

South of France Summer 2017 4 stages from 50km to 200km Free online registration!

For more information & to register visit www.csfcycleforlife.org

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ne in three people in the western world will suffer some kind of cancer in their lifetime.

That in itself is a frightening statistic, but imagine if it was you or a loved one, and the country you live in, didn’t speak your main language. Scary indeed.

In 2002, Cancer Support France (CSF) was set-up to help people in exactly that situation, offering both emotional and practical help such as translation, and now has a vast pool of knowledge and resources at their disposal.

In June 2015, to celebrate life, sunshine and friendship, the Gascony branch of CSF organised a bike ride along the 240 km of the Canal du Midi in southern France. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this beautiful setting provided a fabulous backdrop to what for some was a big personal challenge, and to all, proved to be a very enjoyable few days. Over 60 people rode at least one day, with an heroic few riding all 5 stages from end to end. Among the riders were survivors, sufferers, supporters and sightseers, some having not cycled for decades.

“Cycle for Life” has now become an important annual event to raise awareness for CSF and to acknowledge the fantastic and challenging work that they do for English speakers in France.

Cycle for Life 2017 is open to all and starts in the Medieval city of Carcassonne on 22 June. Over 4 days and in 4 separate stages, the 200km route takes in paths alongside the Canal du Midi, Canal de la Robine and Mediterranean coast before ending in the coastal town of Sête.

With a number of sponsors including Freewheeling France, LaFranglaiseWeb, Renestance and VideoProFrance, it promises to be a great celebration of life with the added conviviality that a group of pedal-powered people can generate.

Cycle tour company and sponsor Vie et Vélo is run by Canadians Bruce and Denise who can offer help with bike hire, bike transport or booking accommodation. Denise explains “We are very excited to be supporting Cycle for Life this year as it not only benefits a great cause, but highlights some

of the fabulous cycling to be had in Languedoc. I expect it will be a great event for cycling enthusiasts of all levels. We are here to help make the experience an easy and enjoyable one for all.”

So, if you’re expecting a race, epic hill climbs, sprint finishes, or weighing your pasta every evening, this is not the ride for you. If a gentle meander through beautiful French countryside in the sunshine, sharing wonderful lunch stops and some bicycle banter is more your thing, don’t think twice about taking part - plenty of fun, food (and of course wine!) are all part of the experience of a lifetime.

Registration for the event is free. You can join for any of the 4 stages or take part in the full 200km. For further details visit www.csfcycleforlife.org.

152 | Cycling World

Visiting North East Scotland?

TURRIFF CARAVAN PARK LTD Welcomes cyclists with caravans, motor homes or tents to pitch

THE PERFECT

me rse t on bik e De sti nat ion for exp lor ing So

Located in Brean Sands, Somerset we’re the perfect destination for those who want to explore Somerset on bike.

• Choice of accommodation options from holiday homes to luxury hot tub lodges and 3 touring fields to pitch up on • Easy access to the Somerset cycle routes • On site facilities include: swimming pools, gym, steam room and sauna, golf course, fishing and live entertainment

SOMERSETS’ HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR 2016/17 Open 24 March – 31 October 2017

NEW FOR 2017

TRIATHLON & FITNESS WEEKEND BREAKS! DATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR - SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS

WWW.HRU.CO.UK - 01278 751 235

A community-run business in the heart of the North East, within easy reach of castle and whisky trails, the Moray Firth, Aberdeen, Huntly and Inverurie. Good local facilities See website for details www.turriffcaravanpark.com or contact the warden on 01888 562205/ Email: info@turriffcaravanpark.com to make a booking.

Barend Holiday Village

Gear yourself up for some good food 2 course meal from our prix fixe menu for £14.95 per person Quote “Wheelie Good Offer” LA BONNE AUBERGE, 161 WEST NILE STREET, GLASGOW, G1 2RL TEL: 0141 352 8310 labonneauberge.co.uk

theatreland@labonneauberge.co.uk

Not valid in conjunction with any other offer and does not apply with loyalty discount. Subject to availability.

Valid for lunch or dinner. Maximum of 8 people per table. Discount does not apply to the grill menu. Discount does not apply to beverage. Pre-booking essential. Quote ‘Wheelie Good Offer’ when booking.

Sandyhills, DG5 4NU In Dumfries & Galloway - Winner of BBC Countryfile Magazine’s Holiday Destination of the Year 2015/16

Cosy, comfy, log cabins | Indoor heated pool & sauna Bar & restaurant on site | WiFi internet access | Open all year | 3 day minimum, any day of entry | Quote CWSS for 5% discount on new bookings | On A710 between Dalbeattie & Mabie 7 Stanes trails

www.barendholidayvillage.co.uk 01387 780663

March 2017| 153 At the summit the views back down to Soller are breathtaking and give a real sense of conquering a coll.

As we speed along the ultra smooth rolling roads, Stephen Roche rides up alongside me, so I grab the chance while I can - to chat with him about, among other things, the TT at Futuroscope, his travails with the tifosi during the ’87 Giro and how equipment has changed and improved over the years. Stephen chats away and it’s fascinating, there’s so much more I want to ask. However, the roads kick up and a glance at my Garmin tells me my heart rate is 185bpm. I manage to mutter that I’m cooked. So with a pat on the back, Roche sails off up the hill to chat with other, fitter riders. It’s very impressive and I notice the effortless acceleration and stylish efficiency of the way he spins the pedals, a riding style he was famed for in his pro days.

That cheeky little ascent has brought us to the beginning of today’s main event: Sa Calobra is the resort at the base of the Coll des Reis and there’s no other road out so it’s a question of down then back up, meaning you get to understand how much you’re going to be suffering in half an hour’s time. The descent is exhilarating: steep, plunging hairpins and fast wide sweeps left and right, fingers constantly poised on the brake levers. I ride down with Andreu and try to follow his experienced line through the corners. By the time we reach the bottom my fingers are aching from pulling on the brakes but the adrenalin is rushing and I’m eager to climb back up.

The sign at the base says 9.5KM at 7% but this is far from an easy climb. There are devilishly steep sections upsetting any notions of spinning up at a constant pace. After begging my way up steep 12% sections the summit is in sight but not before a leg stinging final push.

At the awaiting support car, I replenish my bottles for the blast back to the café, the C’an Gallet, where fast finishers are already tucking in at a huge table laden with local cheeses, meats and cakes. Then it’s into the minibus back to the hotel for much-needed rest.

The Sa Calobra is an amazing feat of engineering

DAY 2

With my legs still feeling the exertions of yesterday’s efforts it’s some relief to look at today’s route and note the gentle elevation profile. The only slight issue is the forecast for rain. Sure enough, the moment we set off, rain starts to fall. I packed for all weathers as only a pessimistic northern European can and am decked in rain jacket, legwarmers and cap under the helmet.

The ride is named ‘The Cake Route’ as our mid-point coffee destination is Celler Sa Sini in Santa Maria del Cani. Today’s ride captains speak in reverent tones of the delights that await us. After 40km of riding in the wet we arrive at the café and are warmly greeted by the patron who is standing by a wall of cakes of every description.

There are healthy options of granola or flapjacks but an ostentatious gateau is winking at me, decision made, coffee in hand we move outside to the sheltered terrace.

The beauty of riding in a group is the humour that pervades when the elements are unfavourable. Eating delicious cakes helps morale of course but there is a shared experience of effort and the camaraderie of a group of people who love cycling whatever the weather.

With the rain getting heavier and visibility an issue, the ride captains decide to cut the rest of the route short. So, it’s a team time trial back to the hotel with only a four km at an average of 3% to blast over. I arrive back soaked to the skin, exhausted but happy.

Nearly at the summit in time for coffee and cake

154 | Cycling World

DAY 3

My third and final full day is an 85 km loop up to the north of the island taking in the Corniche roads. The consensus at breakfast is to take this ride at a leisurely pace to appreciate the views on offer. I’m all for a slower pace today, not least because there’s 1500m of climbing to negotiate.

With warm skies above, we’re soon zipping along quiet, undulating country lanes heading east then swinging north.

After a pretty challenging 50kms, the need for caffeine and carbs is strong. We pull in en masse to the café Vall-Hermos in Estellencs. Relaxing on a large sunny terrace with stunning views, the winter back home is far from my mind.

Then it’s back in the saddle for the final 35km. It's a sharp climb immediately out of the café, but any discomfort is soon tempered by the sweeping views of the Mediterranean.

What goes up must come down, and it’s a thrill to attack the descents on these wide roads, my Garmin nudging 45 mph as we zip down to the valley and repeat the process.

All too soon today’s excursion is over as we ride back into Palmanova and hand over the bikes to the mechanics in the garage. The team are busy preparing for the upcoming Lighthouse Challenge, a five-day guided ride of Mallorca covering 450 km and 7000 metres of climbing. There is sangria laid on in the bar to welcome the influx of new riders and a chance to clink a glass and say goodbye to those departing.

It has been a huge thrill to meet and ride with a cycling legend and a real eye-opener to the benefits of an organized cycling camp. At Stephen Roche Cycling they say, “The most important thing for us is that you go home happy; that you’ve had the best cycling holiday of your life; and you want to come back!” Three out of three isn’t bad, now to organize my return trip…

Taking in the stunning views on the Corniche ride

March 2017| 155

RIDE A UCI GRAN FONDO ON FULLY CLOSED ROADS TOUR OF AYRSHIRE

TOUR OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE

KILMARNOCK APRIL 30TH 2017

PETERBOROUGH JUNE 4TH 2017

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156 | Cycling World

March 2017 Stage

Gaziantep, Turkey – Tripoli, Lebanon (22 – 30 Dec)

Total miles cycled: 3,528 (5,678km)

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March 2017| 157 March 2017 Stage

T

he main problem with carrying a satellite tracker is that everyone knows where you are. This is generally “A Good Thing”, as my mother has beaten into me on regular occasions. But when you're desperately trying to convince people that you're not planning to become an ISIS bride or join the fight for the caliphate and then you're seen wending your way inexorably towards the Syrian border, it can start to feel a little bothersome.

Yet contrary to popular belief, the TurkeySyria border has far more going for it than just suicide bombers and marriage opportunities with theocratic maniacs.

It also has mind-blowing baklava. This is not my opinion; it's objective fact. Both UNESCO and the EU have endowed Gaziantep's pistachio nuts with protected status, giving each one its own armed sentinel and hotline to the president.

Considering all this fuss, leaving without having a taste seems churlish to say the least.

I arrive in Gaziantep – or Antep to its friends – three days before Christmas. My Couchsurfing hosts are two male cousins aged 29 and 40, H and E, who live in a brand new, predictably beige apartment downtown. H works for an NGO that helps Syrian refugees, while E owns a local construction company. Neither are fans of Erdogan, unsurprisingly. But E clearly isn't interested in talking politics.

He just wants everyone to love each other. Soon after I arrive, he whips out his guitar for a sing-a-long, before realising he's too stoned to remember how to play – thank god. Genocidal jihadists I can take, but baked beatnik crooners on a bonding mission are a step too far.

The former are a slight concern, however.

The border, controlled by ISIS, is just 30 miles away, and terrorist sleeper cells are known to operate in the city. During the week of my stay, Syrian journalist and vocal ISIS critic Naji Jerf is shot dead in broad daylight, and a police raid uncovers a large cache of explosives in an apartment. While most people reassure me I am safe, rumours abound that ISIS operatives stalk foreigners, and I am advised – as a conspicuous western, female cyclist – to be on guard.

Efficient trolley loading

On the surface, the city emits a bland sterility that I find unsettling, with endless half-built high rises doused in milkywhite sunlight extending as far as the eye can see. This veneer is thin, however,

and easily cracked like paint. Below, I am aware of a latent, throbbing pulse; the muffled creak of fault lines under pressure. Turks, Syrians, Kurds, diplomats, activists, refugees, spies, sex workers, terrorists and traffickers: all walk in shadows here, in cagey co-existence.

There are over 500,000 Syrians in the city, and – once I've finished eating as much as I possibly can – I set about meeting some of them. My connection is a young American woman, E, who works for the Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD), a Syrian NGO. When we meet, she gives her take on the neighbouring war. While ISIS are 'brutal murderers', she says, Assad is 'far worse'. Statistics from the pro-opposition Syrian Network for Human Rights seem to support this: of the 16,000 civilian deaths in 2015, 75% were reportedly at the hands of the regime.

E introduces me to the head of CCSD, R, who projects a maternal steeliness.

She tells me about the vast network of civilians working with them inside Syria, and the voice of the moderate opposition that has been 'silenced, but not killed'. 'The vast majority of people are still calling for freedom, justice and co-existence,' she tells me. 'The revolution remains alive.'

Through R, I meet a 37-year-old woman, N, from Zabadani, a Syrian town currently under siege by the regime. Before fleeing in June 2014, she and a group of women helped to broker a ceasefire between the regime and opposition. They also managed to negotiate the release of female detainees and the removal of women from checkpoint blacklists – all while maintaining the education of their children.

Many of these women remain in the region now, I am told, along with 22,000 other civilians. They are completely cut off from food and aid by the regime and Hezbollah. A kilo of rice costs $110.

Milk costs $250. Babies are surviving on cornflour, while adults eat grass and steamed apricot leaves. Just yesterday, six men were killed by mines trying to escape: all members of N's family.

During our talk, N calls her friend in Zabadani. 'People are devastated,' the friend says. 'But we know we have to go on. When you help a child to eat, to study, you know you are building the base for the future of Syria.'

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158 | Cycling World

March 2017 Stage

Gaziantep, Turkey – Tripoli, Lebanon (12 – 22 Dec)

Total miles cycled: 3,528 (5,678km)

The strengthening role of women, and civil society as a whole, is one of the 'great untold stories of the conflict', I am told by another female Syrian activist, who works for an NGO called Ihsan. 'Before the revolution there were no NGOs in Syria,' she says. 'Now there are hundreds. We are seeing a cultural revolution.'

That evening I walk home alone and get lost. It's dark and creepily silent, and suddenly I'm petrified. I see a black Mercedes with tinted windows twice in ten minutes and am convinced it's some Baghdadi henchman at the wheel. I walk quickly and determinedly, hoping to look like someone with a concealed Kalashnikov rather than someone who dropped their rape alarm into the toilet a week ago.

By the time I finally distinguish my tower block from the millions of identical ones, I am sweating and tense to the core. I'm being foolishly paranoid, I know. But if I'm beheaded by ISIS, I'll never live it down with my mother.

I spend Christmas Eve with a female CCSD activist, W, her family, R and a few others.

We eat hummus, drink red wine from their Syrian village and listen to Arabic singers: Kadhim Al-Saher from Iraq; Fairuz from Lebanon; Dalida from Egypt. W's husband defected from the Syrian army and is now in Holland, I learn, and she hopes to join him there shortly. N, a Kurd from Aleppo, is scathing about both sides of the conflict.

'The FSA came to “liberate” Aleppo,' she tells me. 'But they just gave the army an excuse to destroy it.'

At 2am on Christmas morning I find myself walking the streets of Gaziantep with W's brother-in-law, my chaperone home – which makes a change from the past 34 years, when I'd be prematurely raiding my stocking for satsumas and Dairy Milk Buttons around this time. He used to work for the US Embassy here, he tells me, but quit because he was frustrated by their obsession with ISIS. 'Daesh Daesh Daesh, that's all they cared about,' he says. 'They didn't care about the Syrian people.'

I awake a few hours later feeling tired and a little empty. It's my first Christmas away from my family and I suddenly realise how much I miss them, along with my boyfriend and friends. Fortunately, there's one thing I love more than all of the above, however, which E treats me to at lunchtime to help me through my gloom: a festive lamb shish. What a legend!

Final Turkish sunset before leaving for my 12-hour voyage to Lebanon

March 2017| 159

The Lake District Coastal Aquarium

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ant to combine a great place to eat with great views and the option of a top visitor attraction?

Then make sure that Maryport is part of your Cumbrian cycle route. Historic Maryport on the Solway Firth Coast of West Cumbria is a great stopping off point for cyclists, hikers, locals and visitors of all kinds as it sits on the intersection of the main North- South A596 Cumbrian coast road and the A594/ A66 link East to the M6, plus of course the Cumbrian Coastal cycleway. This in turn links to the Hadrian’s Wall cycle route heading North and neighbouring Workington that hubs several cycle routes South and inland to the Lake District National Park. Right on the harbourside and well signposted is the town’s Tourist Information Centre and key visitor attraction, The Lake District Coast Aquarium, which is now one of the best places to get to see native marine life in the UK. This has over 60 carefully crafted displays that includes a lobster hatchery and several hands on opportunities to get to grips with hardy sea-creatures!

Integral to the attraction is a popular Café which looks directly out across a working fishing dock towards Southern Scotland, clearly visible on most days. The Café is open to all visitors so has many regular locals who appreciate the fresh ground coffee, newly baked scones and good choice of snacks and meals all at reasonable prices. There is an ‘al fresco’ patio area adjoining the Café with several picnic tables which is popular on sunny days and with cyclists who can secure their bikes within sight as they recover their strength. On cooler days a woodburning stove roars away inside and is a place to dry out after enduring a spell of wet weather. See you there!

info@coastaquarium.co.uk

160 | Cycling World

The Olive Branch, Rutland

T

he Olive Branch in Clipsham in rural Rutland is a past British Pub of the Year (according to The Good Pub Guide 2014 edition) and is the current Leicestershire & Rutland Dining Pub of the Year (a title it’s held for many years). Basically it’s good. Very good. The beer list is awesome, it has its own allotment and pub shop, a beautiful beer garden, and it serves outstanding pub classics alongside delicious snacks, sandwiches, tapas and seafood.

The other great thing about The Olive Branch is its superb location near to some cracking bike routes, combined with the fact that co-owner Ben Jones is a passionate cyclist. As such, Ben and team can offer some excellent route planning advice and will even be happy to accompany you on a guided ride.

For example, one of The Olive Branch’s favourite routes is a 65-mile food tour of Rutland that takes in Hambleton Bakery, The Grainstore Brewpub, Rutland Charcuterie, Northfield Farm, Whissendine Windmill, Launde Farm Lamb, Bottle Kicking Cider Co, Bisbrooke Ostrich Farm, Jimmy’s Smokehouse and, when in season, Rutland Water Strawberries.

Ben and team have uploaded their favourite routes to both ‘Ride With GPS’ and Strava. You can access them all by visiting www.theolivebranchpub.com, scrolling down and looking for the logos.

The Olive Branch can also offer secure bike garaging and has its own award-winning (pretty luxurious) accommodation located across the road from the pub in Beech House. The breakfast is one of the best you’ll eat anywhere!

This pub with rooms is a must-visit for any cyclist who takes their food and drink seriously.

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March 2017| 161 March 2017 Stage

In the evening I'm invited to a CCSD party. The group are more like family than colleagues, and clearly care deeply for each other. Most have lost homes and loved ones, but the occasion is a happy (if frustratingly sober) one, filled with food, chain-smoking and communal singing and dancing. As a conga forms on the dance-floor, one young woman tells me about her escape from Syria. 'I hid in the car boot of a sheikh who was secretly helping the opposition,' she says. 'He was taking a huge risk. Assad has killed all the opposition sheikhs.'

Later, to my horror, I am requested to sing an English song, and perplexingly find myself belting out that well-known Christian psalm 'I Will Survive'. Looking back, I'm still not entirely sure how this came about – suffice to say that I, and the entire Syrian community, are unlikely to let it happen again anytime soon. I'm here to build cultural bridges, I remind myself, not blow Gloria Gaynor-shaped holes in them.

Gaziantep proves so fascinating that I stay an extra two days and am forced to get a bus to Mersin, 300km away, in order to catch my ferry.

Here, I stay with a half-German, 50-something, divorced food technology professor, N, whose current energies are heavily focused on creating purple dye from black carrots. She is dismayed by the rise in social conservatism among her students, she tells me. 'Women are more covered and the teaching is more religious than before.

There's no mention at all of evolution.'

Since her divorce, N says she's experienced constant problems with men, who think she's 'fair game'. She's also had trouble with society more generally. 'Turks love visitors, but if you live here you have to fit in. As an atheist with lots of random cyclist guests, I don't fit the mould.'

It's a reminder that, as a mere passing hobo, my level of social insight will always be limited.

I dip in and dip out, with no threat to custom or conformism. I cut deeper than the average Thomas Cook rubbernecker, perhaps, yet I'm aware that much of what I see is performance; a cloak of civility, where the ruts and rough edges are concealed.

On Dec 29, I cycle 100km along the coast to Tasuçu – an easy, pleasant ride – where I pick up my ferry ticket to Tripoli, Lebanon. After enjoying a heartfelt valedictory kebab to say goodbye to a country I've grown enormously fond of, I join about 30 people and their Kilamanjaro of luggage at the ferry office. We're then taken by truck to the dock, where we're herded through security into a series of prison-style compounds.

My bike and panniers are waved through without checks (terrorists take note), and then my passport is confiscated by a guard. This to prevent those going to Syria from absconding in Lebanon, I learn. Instead, they will be driven directly to the border.

Lebanon! Just eight hours later than scheduled

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162 | Cycling World

March 2017 Stage

Sivrihisar – Gaziantep, Turkey (12 – 22 Dec)

Total miles cycled: 3,250 (5,230km)

We finally leave five hours late, at 1am. I discover I can't afford the food on board, so instead go exploring. With just 30 passengers, nearly all Syrian, most cabins and decks are empty. Through one porthole, I spy a sink full of swampy water; through another, a group of crew members smoking.

Not quite the QE2 – but at least I won't have to queue for the loo, I think cheerily.

I hope to get some sleep in one of the downstairs cabins, but am awoken at 3am by my female companion, who takes it upon herself to launch into a medley of rousing Arabic songs. Worried I might have some kind of Pavlonian Gloria Gaynor moment, I decide to up sticks and snooze elsewhere – but instead get talking to a man from Damascus, M, who is on his way to see his elderly mother in Atmeh refugee camp in Syria. Conditions there are desperate, he tells me. Everyone lives in flimsy, makeshift tents, in freezing temperatures. There's no electricity or running water, and deliveries of food frequently go missing due to robberies by mafia groups.

M, a Sunni Muslim, left Syria for Sweden several years ago, but returned in August 2011 for Ramadan. After he arrived, he says he was arrested as a foreign spy, hung from the wrists in prison and beaten with sticks. He never confessed, however, and after a month he was released. How does he think it will end in Syria, I ask him? 'It won't,' he says upliftingly. 'When the groups stop fighting Assad, they will fight each other.'

By the time we disembark in Tripoli, it's 3pm and we are seven hours late. This is normal, apparently, and nobody seems overly concerned. No wonder services never improve if everyone just accepts them, I think frustratedly – channelling my mother, as I seem to do more and more frequently these days. One woman is clearly upset they are being taken directly to the Syrian border, however. 'I have no money!' she wails hysterically. The guards simply ignore her.

And then, suddenly, I'm alone in the growing twilight. To me, the city is a nebulous lair of unknowns, and I feel tired and tense. It was only recently that Tripoli was suffused in sectarian conflict between Sunni and Alawite jihadist groups: old rivalries exacerbated by the Syrian war. The fighting has now reportedly been brought under control – but has it really? As Maud and I wind tentatively through the chaotic glut of flatulently honking traffic, attracting stares and comments, I feel myself bristle with wary caution.

I don't know my place here yet. I can't gauge the risk.

It strikes me, as it has before, how intimidating it can be to arrive on your own in a completely alien place. I often find it tough – and I’m a white, middle-class English speaker with a huge support network. And I’m here by choice. What it must be like for those with no help or way out, it's tough to imagine. You must need phenomenal strength.

Follow Rebecca's journey on her website at thebicyclediaries.co.uk, Twitter at reo_lowe, Instagram at bexio8 or Facebook at facebook.com/bexbicyclediaries.

Rebecca is sponsored by Kona, Lightwave, Garmin, Arkel, Berghaus, Lenovo and Pedros.

Christmas Day with my new Syrian friends, none of whom were happy to be identified

March 2017| 163

E

skdalemuir (moor of the valley of the River Esk) is a rural district and small village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Settlement is generally located near to, or by one of the many tributaries of the Black Esk and White Esk rivers.

Eskdalemuir is best-known for the nearby Eskdalemuir weather station and for the Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. Eskdalemuir is rich in archaeological remains, including two Neolithic stone circles and a bank barrow, Castle O'er, a possible ritual centre for the Selgovae, Raeburnfoot, a Roman fort and later Dark Age fortifications and settlements.

Eskdalemuir holds the UK Weather Record for the highest rainfall in a 30 minute period. 80mm fell during such a period on 26 June 1953 (Met Office article). But don’t let that put you off making this your destination of choice to the beautiful, tranquil Eskdale valley. We have many forest tracks, quiet country roads and picturesque paths for walking and cycling.

The Eskdalemuir Community Hub is situated in the village of Eskdalemuir with a babbling brook running alongside and ample parking for bikes and vehicle’s. The Hub was developed from the former primary school which closed in the Summer of 2007 due to the decline in pupil numbers. With the help of the Big Lottery, the community pulled together to plan, renovate and build a multipurpose Community Hub, Café, Bar and shop to serve the local community and tourist population. The Café is open 7 days per week and Friday and Saturday evenings. We have meeting rooms to hire for functions, meetings, arts and crafts groups, Art Exhibitions every month plus a small shop stocked with daily basics.

There are many accommodation providers in the area from holiday cottages to bed and breakfasts to bothy’s scattered around the countryside walks.

We are very popular with cyclists and motorbikes, we have hosted the well-known LEL cycle race and are due to host it again this Summer for 3 days where over 14,000 cyclist will take over the whole building on route to Edinburgh. The B709 is known as one of the quietest and most picturesque route from Carlisle in Cumbria to Edinburgh via the Scottish Borders and we are situated alongside it.

Many cyclists travel the circular routes from Langholm – 13 miles north west up one side of the valley via Castle ‘Oer and back down the other side of the river making a 26 mile round trip. We are 14 miles north east of Lockerbie and the M74 so easy access from the Motorway.

You can find us on social media – facebook: Eskdalemuir Community Hub and old School Café, Twitter @EskdalemuirHub and www.eskdalemuir.com plus we are listed on trip advisor and soon to be listed on Visit Scotland.

164| |Cycling CyclingWorld World 82

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166 | Cycling World

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