Cycle / August/September 2021 by James Pembroke Media

cycle THE MAGAZINE OF CYCLING UK

BELFAST BY BIKE URBAN TOURING ON THE MARITIME HERITAGE TRAIL Page 44

On test

OXFORD BIKE WORKS 1E WAHOO ELEMNT ROAM BROOKS SEATPACK FLOOR PUMPS & MORE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

SMALL WANDERS Bikepacking mini-breaks with young children

FOLDING BIKES

£200 B’Twin & 24in-wheel Tern

EAST TO WEST

Lowestoft to Land’s End off-road

P lu s RIDING THE LINCOLNSHIRE WOLDS CYCLING UK SUMMER RAFFLE WHAT TO DO AFTER A CRASH AND MUCH MORE

CONTENTS Features 34 East to west Rough-stuff touring from Lowestoft to Land’s End

Welcome

38 Small wanders Bikepacking mini-breaks with a toddler

47 Warming to cycling Why active travel is moving up the political agenda

50 Flat out

Escaping the crowds on the quiet lanes of Lincolnshire

Products 20 Shop Window Previews of new products

22 Gear up Components, accessories, and books

60 Folding bikes B’Twin Oxylane 100 & Tern Node D8

Flat-bar commu-tourer with a handbuilt UK frame

Regulars 04 Freewheeling Bits and pieces from the bike world

07 This is Cycling UK

Cycle Editor

Cycling UK’s revised strategy, CTC Holidays & Tours ceases trading, West Kernow Way update, road justice, and more

18 You are Cycling UK Three-year-old Daisy Adams

Coronavirus

DAN JOYCE

66 Oxford Bike Works Model 1E

For updated advice regarding the Covid-19 outbreak, visit: cyclinguk.org/ coronavirus

31 Letters Your feedback on Cycle and cycling

On the cover Riding past the Titanic Museum on Belfast’s new Maritime Heritage Trail. By Michael Taylor

44 Weekender Belfast by bike: the Maritime Heritage Trail

55 Cyclopedia Questions answered, topics explained

73 Travellers’ Tales Cycling UK members’ ride reports

CYCLING UK: Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX E: cycling@cyclinguk.org W: cyclinguk.org T: 01483 238300. Cycle promotes the work of Cycling UK. Cycle’s circulation is approx. 51,000. Cycling UK is one of the UK’s largest cycling membership organisations, with approx. 70,500 members and affiliates Patron: Her Majesty the Queen President: Jon Snow Chief Executive: Sarah Mitchell. Cyclists’ Touring Club, a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England No 25185, registered as a charity in England and Wales Charity No 1147607 and in Scotland No SC042541. Registered office: Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX. CYCLE MAGAZINE: Editor: Dan Joyce E: editor@cyclinguk.org Head of Design: Simon Goddard Advertising: Harvey Falshaw T: 020 3198 3092 E: harvey.falshaw@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk Publisher: James Houston. Cycle is published six times per year on behalf of Cycling UK by James Pembroke Media, 90 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BG. T: 01225 337777. Cycle is copyright Cycling UK, James Pembroke Media, and individual contributors. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission from Cycling UK and James Pembroke Media is forbidden. Views expressed in the magazine are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the policies of Cycling UK. Advertising bookings are subject to availability, the terms and conditions of James Pembroke Media, and final approval by Cycling UK. Printed by: William Gibbons & Sons Ltd, 26 Planetary Road, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3XB T: 01902 730011 F: 01902 865835 Founded in 1878

Top to bottom: Ed Shoote, Jon Shaw, Michael Taylor, Dan Joyce

Last August the talk was of ‘air bridges’, which turned out to be pie (as opposed to planes) in the sky. This year it’s traffic lights, a form of transport restriction that everyone understands and respects. Ahem. Red is clear enough: stop (at home). Green is also straightforward: go on if the way is clear (which rules out, say, the Falklands because the way to reach them isn’t). Amber, as ever, is trickier. It seems to mean: you can go but it’s your fault and not your Government’s if things go wrong. Or perhaps people will interpret it like they do on the highway: speed up to nip through ‘just in time’. It’s difficult to predict what will happen regarding foreign travel and everyday freedoms between Cycle going to press and dropping on your doormat. But it’s fair to say that foreign touring this summer will be at best a gamble. The safer option for August will again be a cycling staycation. That doesn’t rule out adventures. You can have those close to home, even when taking a toddler (see page 38). It doesn’t rule out long rides: end-toends, coast-to-coasts, and point-topoints like ‘furthest east to furthest west’ (p34) are still on the cards. And it doesn’t necessarily mean mixing with the staycation crowds. Pick your destination carefully (p50) and you might have the roads and trails to yourself. With a bit of luck, the sun will shine too. Fingers crossed.

cycle O RLD O F CYCLIN G W L FU ER ND O W E TH D A SH O RT TO UR ARO UN

MORE PREVIEWS ON PAGE 20

Bike tech

David met with the Cathedrals Route riders in Portsmouth

You ride

David Goodman

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Cathedrals Route trailblazer

he Cathedrals Cycle Route, linking all 42 Church of England cathedrals in a 2,000-mile loop, was launched at the start of Bike Week 2021. Its creator, Shaun Cutler of Northumbria University, set off to carry a relay baton around the whole route, and Cycling UK member David Goodman travelled from his home on the Isle of Wight to meet Shaun and his companions as they reached Portsmouth cathedral. David has a particular affinity with the route because he completed a similar ride – and even went two better – more than 20 years ago. “At 56 years of age, in the year 2000, I cycled 2,008 miles to raise funds for a local hospice and the national charity RoadPeace,” David says. “I started in Edinburgh, then cycled to the 42 English cathedrals and finished up at the cathedral at Brecon in Wales. I carried a letter from RoadPeace addressed to the bishop of each cathedral, telling them about European Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims. Orbit Cycles of Sheffield loaned me one of their factory machines. “I am 77 now and still cycle on my old Bob Jackson and my Brompton folder. Last year I bought a new Kalkhoff electric-assisted cycle.” Read about David’s millennium ride at cyclinguk.org/article/ millennium-cathedral-challenge

THE CATHEDRALS CYCLE ROUTE The Cathedrals Cycle Route can be ridden in sections as well as in its entirety. Choose whichever of the 42 legs you fancy. Visit cyclinguk.org/cathedrals-cycle-route-challenge

Shop Window

Really?

Classic tech

Rema Tip Top TT02 Touring Is there a better puncture kit than this? The patches’ scalloped edges don’t peel up when applied as the backing material separates in the middle so you can peel outwards. The kit has six small patches, one big one, emery paper, vulcanising solution, and that Woods valve tube no one uses. Approx £5, from good bike shops.

Indoor cycling shoes Offering ‘maximum breathability and a sock-like fit’, Shimano’s new IC1 indoor cycling slippers – sorry, shoes – are designed for spin sessions and indoor cycling exercise. They’re SPD and SPDSL compatible. I’ll stick with warmer shoes also usable outside… £69.99, shimano.com

Event THE NORTH AND SOUTH DOWNS ESCAPADE – 16 SEPTEMBER

Put your fitness to the test in this 475km event with 8,000m of climbing. Starting and ending in Canterbury, it’s a largely off-road reliability trial run by affiliate group Great British Escapades. It uses much of Cycling UK’s North Downs Way riders’ route as well as the South Downs Way. GPX files, patches, enamel mug, and brevet card are all included. Part of your entry fee is donated to Cycling UK. greatbritishescapades.com 4

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On my bike

Try this

AN TURAS MÔR Running 348 miles from Glasgow to Cape Wrath, this off-road trail – put together by the Obscura Mondo Cycle Club – is an epic UK holiday for those who enjoy a bit of the rough stuff. The OMCC kindly allowed Cycling UK to include the An Turas Môr (Scots Gaelic for ‘The Long Journey’) in our Great North

Trail, and it’s certainly a highlight of the overall route for those who ride it. The OMCC’s route guide (from £5) suggests eight days travel through remote backcountry, so be prepared both for the beauty of Scotland and any problems you might encounter. anturasmor.co.uk

Picture this...

Competition time! Cycling UK is running a monthly photo contest in partnership with OS Maps to encourage more people to explore the outdoors. Share snaps from your overnight adventures on Instagram using #12NightsOutIn1Year for the chance to win some fantastic cyclecamping goodies, including an OS Trail 2 GPS (worth £344.99) and luggage from Wizard Works! June’s winner, @kerriadventuresynd, took this on a bothy trip. T&Cs: cyclinguk.org/12nights-out-1-year

Bike Hacks

AVON SKIN SO SOFT Midges: if you’re cycling between April and September in the Scottish Highlands – and many parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland – they’re infuriating. Repellents with DEET are very effective at keeping them off. Another option, allegedly used by the Royal Marines, is Avon Skin So Soft. At £5 for a 250ml bottle (avon.uk.com), it’s cheap, non-toxic, and pretty good. An academic study found it 71.4% effective, versus 95%+ for DEET repellents. And it leaves your skin nice and soft, eh Marines?

Maxine Peake Actress and narrator Why do you cycle? Because it’s fun! How far do you ride each week? About 150km. Which of your bikes is your favourite? My newest acquisition, which is my Pearson Minegoestoeleven. What do you always take with you when cycling? Plasters! A protein bar and lip balm. I put the lip balm on my cheeks because they get really wind burnt. And obviously my puncture kit. Who mends your punctures? To be honest, I’d have to say my partner. It’s raining: bike, public transport, or car? Bike. Lycra or normal clothes? Lycra. If you had £100 to spend on cycling, what would you get? I’d get myself a snazzy cycling top with socks to match. What’s your favourite cycle journey? Up to Tatton Park in Cheshire, through the park seeing all the deer, and then back through the Cheshire lanes. What single thing would most improve matters for UK cyclists? A better cycle network and more awareness from drivers of cyclists.

C Y CL I NGUK . O RG

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Stay in touch CYCLECLIPS: free weekly email newsletter. Sign up at cyclinguk.org/subscribe CAMPAIGN NEWS: monthly campaigns bulletin. Sign up at cyclinguk.org/subscribe-tocycle-campaign-news

The road ahead While cycling levels surged in 2020, group rides, cycle holidays, and events were badly hit. Sarah Mitchell looks forward to a more normal summer

Main photo: Cycling UK Café of the Year 2020, Picnic Deli

ummer is the cycling season, and this year, fingers crossed, we should be able to get back to the group cycling we missed out on in 2020. For many of us there will be a huge sense of relief and excitement in seeing old friends again, being on the open road together, and descending on our favourite coffee-andcake haunts. When we’re out on our bikes, at least we can start to get the sense of a return to normal life. And all just in time for the Women’s Festival of Cycling, which kicked off on 17 July, shortly before Cycle went to press. There have been rides across the UK aimed at encouraging more women out onto their bikes, and we’re looking forward to hearing all about them. In recent months teams at Cycling UK have been busy launching two new projects north of the border. Shift provides grants to community organisations to run cycling activities in their local area, and Rural Connections supports people in Scotland’s most remote areas to make more active everyday journeys. Both projects are funded by Transport Scotland. In September we expect to hear the results of the Government’s revisions to the Highway Code. Thanks to your efforts backing our campaign for improvements, we hope to see some significant changes on car-dooring, overtaking, and other vital areas that will improve road safety. Over the summer you’ll have the chance to support our projects and campaigns work – and win some fabulous prizes – with our annual raffle. All funds raised go to support our work. Prizes include an Islabikes e-bike and some CTC

Stay connected

facebook.com/CyclingUK

£2,699.99

Value of the Islabikes eJanis e-bike you could win in our summer raffle

heritage items. Find out more on pages 16 and 17. Recently the board of trustees had to make the difficult decision to wind up CTC Cycling Holidays and Tours (CTC H&T), which for 20 years offered volunteer-led cycling trips throughout the world. After many months of trying to find ways to grow the business, the trustees reluctantly came to the decision that the combination of increased compliance costs, a drop in demand, and the huge market disruption caused by the pandemic made the business no longer viable. I’m glad we’ll be able to honour those trips already committed to, and hope that we will be able to share some alternative holiday offers for members in 2022. Meanwhile I’d like to thank all the volunteer directors and tour leaders who have given their time and expertise to CTC H&Ts over the years, and to the participants who all added to that unique ‘CTC Tours’ camaraderie. If you have a particular memory of a tour, please do consider sharing this in our Travellers’ Tales section in Cycle. Get in touch at editor@cyclinguk.org. In this issue you’ll also hear about our Routes and Roots trail in Belfast, a new leisure route that brings to life the city’s unique maritime history. Our Tales of the Trails route in South Wales aims to do the same for that area’s mining history. I’ll be celebrating other aspects of our heritage in the coming months. I’m excited to be joining CTC Coventry to celebrate their centenary in October. I also hope to join the Meriden Cyclists’ Memorial Service in September, and I very much hope we’ll be able to do this in person as planned!

Twitter @wearecyclinguk

www.cyclinguk.org

(p16-17)

I’d like to thank all the volunteer directors and tour leaders who gave their time and expertise to CTC Cycling Holidays and Tours

cycling@cyclinguk.org

01483 238301

C Y CL I NGUK . O RG

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people persuaded to become regular cyclists by Cycling UK’s projects

BAME communities and women ride much less than white men

Strategy

LET’S GET MILLIONS CYCLING Cycling UK’s strategy is being updated. Chair Janet Atherton OBE explains what’s changing and why

he last year and a half has seen huge changes in society and in the cycling landscape. Cycling UK’s current strategy, which runs until 2023, is being refreshed as a result. The ‘what’ – the core goal – remains the same: to get millions more cycling. As to why: cycling is even more relevant in a post-pandemic world. In terms of how we deliver the strategy, it will become more focussed as we build on the successes of our campaigning and behaviour change programmes.

The what Imagine a country where cycling is a safe and popular mode of transport, where air pollution is no longer poisoning our children, obesity has been eliminated, and traffic congestion is gone. This is Cycling UK’s vision. We believe that millions more people could cycle, transforming their lives and communities. Right now cycling levels remain low. Only 2% of trips are by cycle, only 12% of women cycle regularly, and only 2% of

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children ride to school. And people from a BAME background or with disabilities are far less likely to cycle. Cycling UK is working to change this.

The why The pandemic has shown how important cycling is for transport and health. Cycling levels soared in the first lockdown. Thanks to our campaigning, governments invested in temporary cycling and walking infrastructure. Going forward, all the home nations have committed to provide significant funds for cycling infrastructure and initiatives.

The how Since the strategy launch in 2018, Cycling UK staff and volunteers, with the support of our members, have shown what we can achieve to enable cycling for all. We’ve created 364,000 more regular cyclists through programmes like the Big Bike Revival, where we responded to travel restrictions by helping frontline workers cycle, and spotlighted new audiences through the Women’s Festival of Cycling. We’ve increased income through corporate sponsorship and grants, and by attracting generous donations and legacies, and we continue to secure government commitments to invest in cycling. We now want to reach out beyond the usual cycling communities to further diversity in cycling. (Read more about our activities in our annual report and strategy refresh document: cyclinguk.org/strategy.) We’ve increased membership to over 70,000 and continue to improve benefits, including a new cycle insurance offer. We’re working on a digital transformation project to better enable us to send you the content you most want to see.

programmes to make cycling more accessible for individuals and communities who don’t often ride. And we’ll push for investment for this from local authorities and governments. We’ll speak for all who cycle. We’ll continue to campaign locally and nationally on issues that impact all existing and potential cyclists. We’ll stand up for cycling when it’s given a bad press. We’ll strengthen our organisation. In a volatile charitable funding landscape, we’ll work to secure stable income to deliver our mission. We’ll invest significantly in modern IT systems to enable our staff and volunteers to work more efficiently. Using new digital tools, we’ll respond better to the needs of our members and beneficiaries. We’ll build sustainable membership. Membership is at our heart. The refreshed strategy aims to capitalise on the increase in people cycling, involving them in our campaigns and welcoming them into our membership. We also want to improve your membership experience by providing more of the tailored content and activities that are relevant to you.

Why it’s important to me and you I started cycling relatively late in life, supported by the Wirral Bicycle Belles cycling group. Cycling UK has a unique membership of new and experienced cyclists. I’ve seen how effective that membership can be, whether that’s getting someone like me riding again or adding your name to the thousands who take part in our campaigns. Your membership makes a difference to every new cyclist and helps us force the hand of government. That’s why our refreshed strategy is so important.

What’s new? Our refreshed strategy will focus on four priorities. We’ll enable cycling for all. We’ll expand our

Janet’s journey began with a Cycling UK group

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41 miles

DUKE OF BALK The gate remains shut to cyclists visiting Bolton Abbey. The Duke of Devonshire, who owns the 30,000 acre estate, came between cyclists and their cake in April when he stopped them from crossing the Wooden Bridge to reach the café. The Duke secured a tax exemption by promising additional access across his estate, including for cyclists, but has been banning cycling on his land for 20 years. We’re liaising with HMRC on this.

CTC Tour of Mongolia, led by Pat and (below right) John Ashwell

Left: Peter Bell. Far left: Alistair Preston

Access

The Guildford to Chichester leg of the Cathedrals Cycle Route: cyclinguk.org/ gld-chich

Travel

HOLIDAYS CANCELLED No way through to the estate’s café

Governance

CYCLING UK AGM 2021 Due to the risks from the pandemic, and to protect the health and safety of members, trustees, staff and others, Cycling UK’s Annual General Meeting will again be held as a virtual meeting. It’s at 11am on Friday 10 September. You can vote on motions by post, online, or at the virtual meeting. Details of the agenda and how to vote are on the insert included with this issue. 10

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e’re sad to announce that after 20 years in business and hundreds of tours worldwide, Cycling UK’s subsidiary company CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours (CTC H&T) will cease trading in October 2021. Holidays where the minimum participant levels have been reached will still be run. It wasn’t an easy decision but the travel chaos caused by Covid-19 and the resulting uncertain future have forced anyone in the holiday industry to take a hard look at their operating model and viability. CTC H&T had to cancel most of this and last year’s tours and absorb the loss of income. Cycling UK trustees and the CTC H&T directors looked at a variety of options to enable the company to continue, focusing on those that were compatible with charitable aims, the demands of the cycle travel market, and the resources available. CTC H&T worked hard over the last few years to restructure the company to meet changes in legislation, deliver the governance required by the business, and to continue to comply with travel regulations.

CTC H&T was unique in providing cycle tours that were designed and led by volunteers for other members. While popular with those who attended, demand had dropped in recent years, both from our own members and the wider public. Looking to the future, market research identified that customers are now looking for a wider range and a more supported cycling holiday experience. We know that touring continues to be a big part of what our members do – individually, through our groups, and on our routes. For the 2022 season, Cycling UK is exploring options to promote a broader range of holidays in the UK and worldwide from a group of trusted suppliers. We’d like to recognise and thank the CTC H&T Directors, Jonathan Naughton and notably Jim Maynard, who set up the CTC H&T Company and still chairs the company. We’d also like to thank the other directors past and present, all the volunteer tour leaders, and the participants who contributed to that unique ‘CTC Tours’ camaraderie.

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Aug Women’s Festival of Cycling ends. Missed anything? Catch up at cyclinguk.org/ womensfestival

Equality

THEY ARE THE CHAMPIONS

Lorraine Liyanage only learned to ride in her forties

Health

WANTED: W YORKS CYCLE INSTRUCTORS Cycle for Health is a programme of training and led-rides for adults in West Yorkshire with poor mental or physical health. It’s helped more than 1,000 people. Cycling UK now needs instructors (NSI or 1st4sport qualified) and co-instructors (NSIP or Ride Leader qualified) who can commit to six weeks of a 12-week programme. Email cycleforhealth@cyclinguk. org or tel: 01483 904562.

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Sophie Gordon (2nd right) rode the new route in June. Full article next issue

Left: ?????

As part of Cycling UK’s commitment to women’s cycling, we’re following the journeys of six female cyclists who are new or fairly new to cycling as they work towards their 2021 goals. Whether joining a group or conquering a challenge, the ongoing stories of the digital cycling champions will help inspire women to take up cycling. cyclinguk.org/digitalcycling-champions

Routes

WEST KERNOW WAY

his September Cycling UK will launch the West Kernow Way, a new 150-mile bikepacking trail that showcases the best of west Cornwall, including the Botallack tin mines, the Bronze Age monument Mên-an-Tol, Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount, and Lizard Point. Expect spectacular coastal scenery, hedgerows bursting with wildflowers, and ancient tracks across isolated moorland. The route is designed to be ridden over three or four days. It links together bridleways, byways, lost ways,

and quiet lanes to escape the tourist hotspots and discover hidden treasures that reveal the history and culture of the region. With over 4,200m of climbing, it’s quite a challenge – but all that exertion is a good excuse to sample some excellent Cornish cuisine. The West Kernow Way forms part of the EU-funded EXPERIENCE project, which aims to develop sustainable off-season tourism activities across six regions in England and France. As part of the project, Cycling UK will also be helping hospitality businesses along the route

become accredited Cycle Friendly Places, so you know you will be greeted with a warm welcome. The route will be launched on 3 September to coincide with the Tour of Britain passing through Cornwall. As well as downloadable route files, there will also be a comprehensive guidebook by MTB writer Guy Kesteven. The trail follows in the wheel tracks of King Alfred’s Way and the Great North Trail as part of our vision to create more long-distance trails for cycling adventures. cyclinguk. org/west-kernow-way

Projects

SCOTLAND CYCLE REPAIR SCHEME Over 31,000 bikes, trikes and wheelchairs have been repaired thanks to the Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme, which ended in May. The scheme was funded by the Scottish Government and run by Cycling UK to help those who needed it most with £50 of free cycle repairs and servicing at 330 bike shops and mechanics across Scotland. One mechanic taking part, Morag Prach, told us how the scheme had given her small business a big boost. You can read her story on the Cycling UK website. cyclinguk.org/cycling-scientist

Morag repaired 109 bikes through the scheme

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25 years

The first National Cycling Strategy appeared in 1996. Don’t celebrate: read cyclinguk.org/ncs25

Member benefits

DON’T SKIM THIS, SCAN IT

Events

VOLUNTEER CELEBRATION This year’s Volunteer Celebration is on Saturday 9 October, with the theme of ‘Enabling the Movement – moving forwards’. There’ll be a virtual group ride plus workshops and fun activities, including a quiz. Visit cyclinguk.org/event/ virtual-volunteercelebration-2021. We’ll also recognise those volunteers appearing on our new Roll of Honour: cyclinguk.org/ cycling-uk-roll-honour.

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Drivers accruing 12 or more penalty points from repeat offences are avoiding bans

Road justice

ROAD CRIME & PUNISHMENT

ycling UK is working with road safety partners and charities to push for amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would tackle some of Great Britain’s failing road justice laws. Our new report, Five Flaws: Failing Laws, highlights five changes that could be brought in via this bill to tackle dangerous road crime, make our roads safer for everyone, and stop victims being let down by our road justice system. The proposals include closing the ‘exceptional hardship’ loophole, which allows people who have

accrued 12 or more penalty points to avoid a driving ban – and which is currently exploited by around 10,000 drivers a year, making a mockery of the term ‘exceptional’. Christopher Gard was someone who dodged a ban in 2015, despite being caught using his phone at the wheel eight times. He quickly broke his promise to magistrates that he’d lock his phone in the boot when driving and, texting once again behind the wheel, he hit and killed cyclist Lee Martin. Although Cycling UK continues to push for the full

review of road traffic laws promised by Government in 2014, we cannot miss this opportunity to address: the underuse of driving bans by the courts; the belittling maximum sentence for ‘hit and run’ of just six months custody, even where a driver leaves someone for dead; and the inadequate penalty for car-dooring. We’ll now be engaging directly with members of the House of Lords, but you can support our campaign by writing to your MP to ask them to raise these issues with the Minister. cyclinguk. org/road-justice

Events

MERIDEN MEMORIAL SERVICE This year’s Cyclists’ Memorial Service on Sunday 5 September at Meriden in the West Midlands will be the 100th time it has taken place since its inception in 1921. Also on the same date is the 95th annual Coxwold Memorial Service for Cyclists in Yorkshire, as well as the Dorset Dirt off-road ride in Dorchester. You can find details of these and other Cycling UK events on our website. cyclinguk.org/events-listing

Left: Cyclists’ Memorial at Meriden, by Alamy

Scan the QR code below with your phone’s camera and click on the notification to find out about the new range of Cycling UK and heritage kit from leading clothing brand Stolen Goat (stolengoat.com/cycling-uk). This summer also sees new member discount offers from OS maps, Muc-Off, Asgard sheds, Caravan and Motorhome Club, Bike Club, and BIKE-DROP. cyclinguk. org/member-benefits

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Encourage your friends and family to enter too

Prize draw

SUMMER RAFFLE Welcome to Cycling UK’s 2021 prize draw. Enter now at cyclinguk.org/summer-raffle

Photo: Joolze Dymond

uy a ticket to Cycling UK’s raffle and you could be the lucky winner of one of our amazing prizes. There is nothing like a new e-bike to brighten up your summer. Every ticket sold goes towards helping us create a better world by bike. Last year Cycling UK supported 3,000 key workers during the pandemic, fixed over 6,200 key workers’ bikes through the Big Bike Revival, launched the King Alfred’s Way route, and offered support and advice to enable more people to start cycling. Looking forward there are so many opportunities for Cycling UK to get more people on bikes, make our voice heard, increase our supporter base, and improve

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the member experience – and you can help. We can only do all that we do thanks to your support. Entering our Summer Raffle is one way you can show that support – and you might win a little something wonderful too. Please buy some tickets today and encourage your friends and family to enter. This will be our biggest and only raffle in 2021. It’s your one chance to win! If you’d like to support us but don’t want to play the raffle, you can make a donation via the website: cyclinguk.org/donate.

How to play Please enter online if you can as it will save on our administration costs. There may be delays

in processing mail sent to the office as staff are still mostly working from home to maintain social distancing. • Online: Visit cyclinguk.org/summer-raffle to pay by debit or credit card. Online entries must be made by 1am on Thursday 30 September 2021. • Post: Send back your labelled ticket stubs, payment form, and payment details to: Summer Raffle, Cycling UK, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX. Full instructions for postal entries are on the payment form. Entries must be received by Wednesday 22 September 2021. We will send paper ticket books to members we’ve identified as having previously entered by mail but not online. If you don’t receive tickets but would prefer to enter by post, please order books of tickets by Sunday 5 September at cyclinguk.org/ summer-raffle or email summer-raffle@ cyclinguk.org.

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Prizes

ENTRIES

Here’s what you could win. Don’t forget that every entry and donation goes towards Cycling UK’s charitable work and campaigning.

Online entries must be made by 1am on Thursday 30 September 2021. Paper ticket entries must be received by Wednesday 22 September 2021.

Five sets of Cycling UK kit @ £125

Five winners will be kitted out with a heritage merino wool cycling jersey as well as an Orcamade Cycling UK club jersey.

Pannier Tours and Expeditions guide you through their handpicked gravel riding destinations. Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or keen outsider seeking adventure by bike, Pannier CC has the adventure for you.

Islabikes eJanis e-bike

£2,699.99 Islabikes’ lightweight, stepthrough road e-bike offers ‘just-right’ electric assist whilst remaining light and nimble when you prefer to ride ‘analogue’. Winner of a RedDot: Product Design 2020 award.

£1,000 cash

Restrap bar & frame bag bundle £171.99

Five sets of Lezyne lights @ £20

Stay visible with these ultracompact safety lights. They’re made with a durable aluminium body to ensure your light will never let you down mid-ride. The lens extends beyond body to provide 180 degrees of illumination, making you visible from the sides.

That’s right: £1,000 cash for you to spend as you please!

Restrap are providing a lucky winner with the bikepacking essentials: a 14L bar bag, a handy 1.5L food pouch, and a 3.5L frame bag. Restrap’s quality bikepacking luggage is handmade in the UK and features YKK zips, textured nylon outers, and VX21 fabrics. Their bags are tough, durable, and versatile.

Pannier CC touring voucher £100

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For full terms and conditions, please visit cyclinguk.org/ summer-raffle/terms

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Inspiring cyclists

DAISY ADAMS Three-year-old Daisy is a pocket-sized Danny MacAskill, regularly showcasing her skills on social media. Christina Bengston spoke to her mum, Helen

int-sized cyclist Daisy Adams is the youngest person ever to be included on our 100 Women in Cycling list. At just 3 years and 11 months old, Daisy rides her bike every day – carving up mountain bike trails, competing in races, or inspiring her many fans on social media with her bike skills and tricks. “If Daisy encourages other families to go out and have little adventures with their kids, then that’s great” said Daisy’s mum Helen. Daisy began her cycling journey at only seven months old when she pushed herself along on her four-wheeled toddler bike before she had even started walking. By the time she turned two, Daisy was already making national headlines after cycling 45 miles in just nine days for the charity Sands in memory of her older sister Lily, who died 45 minutes after being born. Then in March this year she appeared on BBC Breakfast after cycling 47 miles in seven hours. When asked what she wanted to do when she grows up, she happily exclaimed: “I want to go do the Tour de France!” Due to Daisy’s internet popularity, Helen frequently fields questions from other parents asking for advice and recommendations about children’s cycling. “We get a lot of messages with people saying, ‘My daughter loves Daisy’s videos and it’s made her want to go out and do stuff on her bike.’ These are the nicest messages,” said Helen. “It’s so great to be talking about a positive cycling story. Cycling gets such a bad rap for so many ridiculous reasons and yet there’s so much positivity there. It’s such a great thing for kids to be out and having that freedom. It’s nice to be having a positive impact on something.” In addition to cycling, Daisy also has a passion for ballet. She recently showcased both in a bike dance video in which she gracefully glides around Bristol’s Millennium Square doing tricks on her BMX wearing a pink tutu. Daisy can often be seen in her videos wearing dresses as she rides, partly because of being misgendered when she’s speeding down mountain bike tracks wearing her full-face helmet. Onlookers frequently assume she must be a boy.

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Top: Daisy enjoys trail centres and has done some DH racing Below: Combining her passion for ballet with her BMX

100 Women

“Just because she rides really well and on a mountain bike,” said Helen, “people make that assumption. It happened to her one day six times and she looked so upset. I shouldn’t have to explain to a three-year-old why people are making this mistake. Little girls ride too.” This is why the 100 Women in Cycling list is so important: we have to show the next generation that cycling is for them. Like Daisy, every woman and girl on the 100 Women list has been an inspiration to others, giving them the support and confidence to give cycling a go. And as Daisy continues to smash her personal cycling goals, she’s also shattering the misconceptions of what women cyclists can do. Cycling UK can’t wait to see what Daisy does next. We all look forward to cheering her on at the Tour de France in a few years! Follow Daisy on Instagram: @pint_size_cyclist

More Info Find out who has been featured in this year’s 100 Women in Cycling. c yclinguk.org/womensfestival/ 100women/2021

For the last five years, the 100 Women in Cycling list has given us the opportunity to shine a light on cycling heroines. All the women on the list in 2021 have been nominated by Cycling UK members and supporters. Women from every corner of the cycling world have been included, from mountain bikers and endurance cyclists to community group leaders, cycle instructors and entrepreneurs.

P roduct News

SHOP WINDOW Supply, it seems, is starting to catch up. Dan Joyce spotlights some products you can buy now… ish

E-BIKE EVENT

There’s an e-bike demo weekend at Alexandra Palace in London on 14-15 August. Register to ride at cycleshow. co.uk/ebike-demoweekend

Wireless shifting has trickled down from Red and Force to SRAM’s Rival groupset. It’s much cheaper, especially in 1×, though still pricy. Good for an S&S couplings equipped road or gravel bike? sram.com

Ribble Urban AL e

£2,499 Powered by an eBikemotion rear hub motor, Ribble’s urban e-bike is, at 17.5kg, lighter than some unassisted roadsters – despite integral racks, lights, kickstand, and mudguards. ribblecycles.co.uk

£varies Taking a leaf from Carradice’s book? Apidura doesn’t only sell new bags now but also repaired, refurbished, and test samples of its luggage. More power to them. revive.apidura.com

This 40-lumen rear light has a SIM inside (monthly fee £3 or £4), enabling you to locate your bike via your phone. It also does ride logging, theft and crash alerts, and works as a brake light and bike alarm. eshop.v.vodafone.com/uk

TRP Spyre Flat Mount calliper £55

Road and gravel bike frames are increasingly designed for lower-profile, flat-mount disc brakes. If you run mechanicals, this is arguably the best compatible option. trpcycling.com

Apidura Revive

Vodafone Curve Bike Light & GPS Tracker £79

SRAM Rival eTap AXS £1,100+

Ortlieb HandlebarPack QR £125

Ortlieb’s new 11-litre bikepacking bar bag fits flat and drop bars with a strapping system called ‘Bar-Lock’, which requires no handlebar bracket. The bag is waterproof, of course. Weight: 530g. ortlieb.com

5 3

Rapha Women’s Trail Shorts £110

Part of a new MTB range from the artfully photographed roadie brand, these 88% nylon/12% elastane shorts could be worth the high price if they’re as good as Rapha’s existing Randonnee shorts. Black or ‘purple’, XXS-XL. rapha.cc

6 More online Check out our in-depth reviews of the latest bikes and gear online at: cyclinguk.org/cycling-advice

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Gear up

( ( Put to the test

Is there a product that you think needs reviewing?

Write to: Cycle, PO Box 313, Scarborough, YO12 6WZ editor@cyclinguk.org

COMPONENTS, KIT, AND MEDIA SELECTED AND REVIEWED BY BIKE JOURNALISTS AND CYCLING UK STAFF

Pros & cons

+ Simple to use + Visible screen in all conditions – Expensive

Other options

GARMIN EDGE 830 £349.99

More costly and not so user-friendly competitor to the Elemnt Roam, which relies less on carrying a smartphone and more on its own impressive computer.

garmin.com

Wahoo

Elemnt Roam GPS User-friendly GPS unit with great on-the-fly navigation £299.99 uk.wahoofitness.com

hen my Garmin Edge Touring died, I asked friends and the internet for advice on a replacement. The Garmin had taken a long time to get to grips with but with understanding had come (grudging) acceptance. Should I get another? No, I was told: ditch Garmin, go Wahoo. My needs for a bike computer are straightforward: clear navigation for both on and offroad multi-day international riding; long battery life; a clear, visible screen that I can read without my specs in all light

conditions; how far/high/fast I am; and, what I used to think impossible, the ability to change the route easily on the go. All signs pointed to the Elemnt Roam with its 2.7in display and 17-hour battery life. I’m suspicious of products that drop vowels to stand out, but put my misgivings aside and made the purchase. It took some soul searching: £300 is a lot of money to spend on a bike computer. Having used the Wahoo for more than a year, the financial sting has gone and only pleasant memories remain. Unlike my old Garmin, you do

need a modern smartphone with Bluetooth and the Wahoo app to get the most out of the computer. I’ve also linked it with my Komoot and RidewithGPS accounts, which means I can access all the routes I’ve designed, and even better adjust them on the fly. Setup was self-explanatory and took only minutes, and it’s been easy to use ever since. The display is fully customisable via the app, but the factory-set displays give you most things you need. My first real ride – an off-road route in Sardinia – was a baptism of fire but it worked like a dream. At one point my route was barred by a gate my mapping software had failed to recognise. A few taps on my phone, a beep on the Wahoo, and I had a workaround. Are Garmin’s days done? I doubt it, but Wahoo’s a contender I’m happy to stick with. Sam Jones

Cycle’s test promise At Cycle, we are proudly independent. There’s no pressure to please advertisers as we’re funded by your membership. Our product reviews aren’t press releases; they’re written by experienced cyclists after thorough testing. 22

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WAHOO ELEMNT BOLT GPS £249.99 Wahoo’s newest computer is smaller, cheaper, has less battery life but more memory than the Roam. Geared at roadies over tourers.

uk.wahoofitness.com

Verdict

A game changer for tourers who want the security of GPS guidance and the flexibility for spur-ofthe-moment changes to the itinerary. I’m glad I made the switch.

REVIEWS

GEAR UP

Pros & cons

+ Great stability when riding + Quality build and design – Expensive

Brooks

Scape Seat Bag Sway-free seatpack from the heritage brand £115 brooksengland.com

Other options

he Scape Seat Bag is part of a new bikepacking luggage range from the brand best known for its leather saddles. Brooks has been making panniers, backpacks, and traditional saddlebags for some years now, so the move into the bikepacking market isn’t surprising. The seat bag is made up of two parts: an outer holster and a waterproof inner bag with an 8L capacity. The materials used are high quality: the outer fabric is durable 600D polyester while the inner bag has an impressive 50,000mm waterproof rating – much more than most waterproof jackets. My favourite feature is the

air valve on the inner drybag. You can open the air lock to compress the bag down tightly and then lock it off to prevent further air getting in. The valve is easy to twist even in gloves and is an excellent way to reduce the pack size. Other useful features include the daisy chain for attaching smaller bags or various belongings, and a loop on the rear to mount a light. The Scape bag fitted securely to my bike’s seat post, and there was very little sway when riding – unlike some other seat bags I’ve tried. There are two velcro straps that latch around the seat post and then two straps that are designed to thread through the saddle rails and clip back

on to the sides of the bag. These worked well and held the bag tight to my bike. Seatpacks like this need a reasonable amount of room between the saddle and rear tyre. With short legs and a bike with 700C wheels, it’s something I’m always conscious of. The Scape bag had only minimal clearance. However, as it remained firmly in position and didn’t droop or sway, it didn’t rub on the rear tyre. You can improve clearance by tightening the side straps further and compressing the bag, as long as it’s not too full. Clearance was bigger on my mountain bike, which has smaller wheels. Pip Munday

ORTLIEB SEATPACK £125+

RESTRAP SADDLEBAG (8 LITRES) £104.99

Waterproof bag in two sizes: 11L and 16.5L. Review at: cyclinguk.org/article/ group-test-seatpost-bagsbikepacking.

Similar design to the Brooks, with a drybag in a holster. Other sizes available are 7L and 14L. Also reviewed on Cycling UK website (left).

ortlieb.com

restrap.com

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Verdict

I was very impressed with the Brooks Scape Seat Bag and would recommend it. At £115 it is expensive but the quality is well worth paying for.

REVIEWS

GEAR UP

Pros & cons

+ Road speed + Grip and traction + Low weight

Other options

Continental

Terra Trail 47-584

RENE HERSE JUNIPER RIDGE TC FROM £80 Expensive, handsome, all-conditions tyre with tubeless compatibility. Various casings: extralight, standard, endurance, endurance plus. svencycles.co.uk

Lightweight, low-drag gravel tyre for on/off road usage £37.95 conti-tyres.co.uk

fter testing it last year, Continental’s Terra Speed became my favourite winter commuting rubber thanks to its reassuring grip on local lanes mud-layered by farm tractors. At only 400g in the 40-584 size, the Terra Speed was also the lightest of the four gravel tyres I tested. Continental’s broadly similar Terra Trail is the same weight despite being wider (47584 or 27.5×1.75in). This is surprising for a couple of reasons: the Terra Speed is supposed to be the ‘fast’ model in the ‘cross gravel’ range; and the narrower, 40-584 version of the Terra Trail is heavier at 430g (albeit with a different casing). So this particular 47-584 Terra Trail model is something of a standout in the line up. Like the Terra Speed, it uses a tread pattern of small, roughly hexagonal knobbles – widely-

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spaced over the sides of the sidewall carcass and clustered more closely around the centre line. The design minimises mud clogging and helps keep the weight down, thanks to the small amount of rubber in the knobbles. Fitted to 24mm rims, the Terra Trail measured exactly 47mm in width. I ran the tyres tubeless to take maximum advantage of the potential performance. Installation was quick and trouble-free on non-tubeless rims fitted with Stan’s No Tubes rim tapes, and the tyres were still holding 20psi four weeks after their last ride. Inflated to 40psi front and 50psi rear for the road, they give a sumptuous ride on all but very smooth tarmac, where the slight whine from the knobbles reminds you that this is not the ideal surface on which to use them. Chipseal, however, is dispatched

with disdain. That 400g weight means that acceleration and climbing mirror the narrower Terra Speed, although the softer inflation pressure (by about 10psi) means the Trail feels slightly less communicative and sprightly. Offroad, the fatter tyre is, predictably, much the better performer, allowing you to blast rock-strewn farm tracks that need a more considered approach on narrower rubber. Richard Hallett

Verdict

This version of the Terra Trail may be the fastest in its class, rolling so well for a knobbly that tarmac sections can be enjoyable, while making short work of muddy tracks.

PANARACER GRAVELKING SK TLC £44.99 Tubeless-compatible tyre with an aggressive all-roads tread and a puncture resistant belt.

panaracer.co.uk

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Books

Print queue

Cycle doesn’t feature all books received. Reviewers pick the ones they think you need to know about from the Editor’s shortlist. Send review copies to: Cycle, PO Box 313, Scarborough, YO12 6WZ

MORE READING TO INSPIRE YOUR RIDING

Revolutions HANNAH ROSS EXPLORES the struggles

and triumphs of female cyclists from the 19th century on. Cycling has given women freedom to travel, explore and exercise. American feminist Susan B Anthony credits the bicycle with having “done more to

Details

By: Hannah Ross Publisher: Weidenfeld

Cycling for Sustainable Cities WHAT INTERVENTIONS WORK best to enable more people to cycle? That’s the question professors Ralph Buehler and John Pucher set out to answer in this book. The authors have looked at policies in major cities across the world to determine what interventions have worked best and for whom, and what lessons can be applied and adapted elsewhere. At just over 450 pages, this is a detailed reference book. However, the chapter structure is Details really helpful. If you want to find out how By: Ralph Buehler & John Pucher to address the gender gap in cycling, Publisher: MIT Press the impact of cycle advocacy, or the Price: £26 contrasting experiences of different cities, ISBN: 9780262542029 it’s easy to find the relevant text. Unsurprisingly, the authors show that the cities that have greatly expanded their network of separated cycling facilities have also seen large increases in cycling levels. They also highlight the need for complementary intervention programmes, with policies that make cycling more attractive and measures that make driving a car in city environments less convenient. This book is a fascinating digest of what’s happened where in different cities, with the benefits of cities becoming more sustainable through cycling resonating throughout.

& Nicolson Price: £16.99 (hardback) ISBN: 9781474611367

emancipate women than anything else in the world”. Ross tells us stories of trailblazers who battled against oppression and sexism to break records, challenge stereotypes and fight for suffrage. If we gave stars for our reviews, this book would get them all. Christina Bengston

Pennine Bridleway PUTTING THE USER front and centre is fundamental to creating a user-friendly guidebook. Hannah has nailed it. The book is pocket sized and thus easy to pack, and navigation is straightforward thanks to the different sections’ colour coding and the QR code included for

Details

downloading the GPX files. The guide strikes a good balance between the

By: Hannah Collingridge more experienced reader wanting route Publisher: Vertebrate

Publishing Price: £15.95 ISBN: 9781839810428

details only and the newbie needing

wider advice. If you’re planning to ride any or all of the route, this is a must buy. Ross Adams

End to End LAND’S END TO John o’ Groats is one of the

most popular long-distance cycle routes. Most of those tackling it take between a week and a month, but a select few aim to reach the signpost at JoG less than two

Duncan Dollimore

days after leaving Land’s End. In End to End, Jones entertains us with accounts of

Excerpts You can read excerpts from some of the books that Cycle has reviewed at cyclinguk.org/cyclebook-excerpts

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Details

By: Paul Jones Publisher: Little,

Brown Price: £16.99 (hardback) ISBN: 9781408712733

record attempts from the 1880s to date, as well as his own fast-but-not-record-pace ride in 2019. The deeper story is about his inner journey, as I suspect it is for most who complete LEJOG, however long they take. Paul Porter

O p inio n

Letters

Get in touch

THIS MONTH E-BIKE TRANSPORT, HANDCYCLING, HOLIDAY MEMORIES, PUFFINS, HIGHLAND TRAIL ACCESS, AND MORE

LETTERS are edited for space, clarity and, if necessary, legality. The Editor reads and acknowledges all members’ letters but publishes only a selection and doesn’t enter into correspondence. Feedback for the next issue must arrive by 31 August. When writing, please include your membership number. WRITE TO: Cycle, PO Box 313, Scarborough, YO12 6WZ or email editor@cyclinguk.org

E-bikes can replace cars for some journeys that would be awkward without assistance

Left: .Joolze Dymond

The right trike

th Letter of the mon

Power to your pedals

his ‘Assault on batteries’ letter in the June-July issue was obviously designed to provoke. On the contrary: we should celebrate when people ride a bike of any kind, rather than drive a massive, unnecessary and dangerous SUV. I’m lucky enough to own four bikes: a lightweight road bike for dry weather; a bike with fatter tyres, disc brakes and full mudguards for bad weather; a folding bike; and an electric bike. The first two are for leisure, and I’ve covered around 33,000km on them. The e-bike, which I’ve ridden 19,000km on (I had the battery refurbished last year), is used to: commute to work; cart home 20kg of shopping; ride ten miles across hilly countryside with heavy musical equipment on board; deliver things to my housebound father; etc – everything that most people do by car. I would never use it just for exercise, as it’s heavy and not ‘fun’ like the other bikes. Our tiny car, and we do have one, hardly goes out except when it’s dark or we have to take passengers. We could manage without it if we had to. E-bikes are a fantastic invention and they can definitely replace many car journeys. We should encourage them. Fiona Le Ny

Stay connected

facebook.com/CyclingUK

Win an SKS Compit+ & case worth £89.98 The letter of the month wins an SKS Compit+, courtesy of Zyrofisher. This mounts your phone securely to your handlebar and charges it on the go, wired or wirelessly. When we tested it in the Dec 20/ Jan 21 issue, our reviewer said: “I was impressed… A rock-solid mount that keeps your phone topped up.” The prize includes a Compit phone case. For more details, or to find your local stockist, visit zyrofisher.co.uk

Twitter @wearecyclinguk

I have been a cyclist all my life from as young as ten years. So when I had my legs amputated in 2017 I got myself a hand-powered tricycle. As I found it hard going uphill, I then bought one that could have a motor in the front wheel (pictured). I enjoy my cycling and go as often as I can. The greatest distance I have done in a day is 32 miles by road and cycle path. Covid-19 has limited where I can go. Many cycle routes around Doncaster are barred to invalids; the council’s excuse is that the barriers are to stop quad bikes. Geoffrey Heap

Tours de force

We recently received an email from Pat and John Ashwell telling us that they are retiring as CTC holiday leaders. My partner Peter and I have been on several of their holidays, including their last one in Somerset this year. Peter’s first experience of travelling with the Ashwells was in Vietnam. He came back so enthused that I leapt at the opportunity to sign up for one of their trips to Mongolia. Our next trips were to Kyrgyzstan and Albania. All the trips, whilst being remote,

cycling@cyclinguk.org

editor@cyclinguk.org C Y CL I NGUK . O RG

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LETTERS

YOUR FEEDBACK

were intricately planned, linking up with wisely chosen local guides. Pat and John’s time in the armed forces was evident in their clear, decisive leadership. They were enthusiastic and professional, and I always felt safe. There are some people who stand out in one’s life and Pat and John have truly inspired and enriched mine. Thank you! Ms Julian Hornsby

as a peripheral sport for Lycra-clad people chasing Strava segments but as an everyday activity, as it is in Holland. I feel the cycling community should be doing so much more to promote the activity as something for all. To give Cycle its due, I hardly saw any Lycra in the photos accompanying the ‘Saddle up for summer’ article. Bob Skipworth

th Photo of the mon

Cyclist shushing

I spotted this sign in a village in Buckinghamshire recently. The alleged problem seems to be caused by a single cyclist. Is he/she shouting to him/herself, or ringing the bike’s bell at the village dog? Roger Grosvenor

Since you wrote, it has been announced that CTC Cycling Holidays is regrettably being wound up. More details on p10.

CYCLING UK FORUM

Access denied

Orkney & Shetland

My husband and I have been doing the British Cycle Quest since 2012. It has taken us to some wonderful places, most recently Orkney and Shetland. At the end of May, we took the ferry from Aberdeen to Orkney along with our friend Joy, who had joined us to see the puffins. We rented a cottage in Kirkwall for a week and managed to visit all six BCQ checkpoints in the first three days, which left us the rest of the week to look for puffins, cafés and scenic cycling routes. Then we took an overnight ferry to Shetland, where we rented another cottage. On our third day we cycled to Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, where we were greeted with magnificent views – and puffins galore. Jan Bailey

A high gate on the gravel road track above the Cashel Dhu Ford in Sutherland has been locked. This track is used by cyclists riding the An Turas Môr and Great North Trail routes. I understand that the Cashel Dhu Partnership has planted trees to promote biodiversity in this area, but cannot see how closing a doublewidth gravel track is needed to protect this planting. We at the Obscura Mondo Cycle Club think it’s unreasonable and have asked the Highland Council Access Officer to take action under their responsibilities contained in The Land Reform (Scotland Act) 2003. We are asking all concerned with protecting our hard-won access rights to write now to the Highland Council Access Officer: matt.dent@highland.gov.uk. David Wilson

Bikes for women

Cycle is my favourite cycling magazine due to its well-written articles and relevance to my cycling needs. Unfortunately the ‘women’s Alexandra Brewer’s letter ‘Too Sporty’ road bikes’ review contains a flaw. The (June/July Cycle) regarding the Planet-X London Road looks like a very perception of cycling as a sport rather nice bike (I’ve considered buying one) than an everyday activity rings but the smallest frame size is true. Many people who only suitable for heights of cycle would not class 5´4" and up. That’s about Obituaries themselves as cyclists. the average height of Are published For cycling to women in the UK, so it’s online at cyclinguk. progress in the UK, it too big for many of us. org/obituaries. needs to be seen not Mary Morgan Contact publicity@

This unsporting life

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Get immediate feedback from other members at forum.cyclinguk.org. Here’s an abridged extract from a recent thread: cyclinguk.org/ bad-bike-designs BIKE DESIGNS WHICH SHOULD BE BINNED james01: Top of my list is ‘lawyer’s lips’ on front forks. I have a special list of foul oaths for the bright spark who invented them. mattsccm: Vertical dropouts. Black components. I’ll live with tyre treads and brake blocks. Audax67: Sloping crossbars. You can’t get a one-litre bottle into the back cage and extract it easily on the road rogerzilla: Sculpted dropouts that make it almost impossible to fit a rack or close a QR lever. zenitb: Aluminium nonShimano Hyperglide cassette bodies with easily ‘gnashed’ splines. I prefer not to take my cassette cogs off with a chisel. ClappedOut: Plastic brake levers that flex when used. PT1029: Internal gear cable routing torturously routed through down tube via the BB and through the chainstay.

thelawnet: Most uses of 1×, e.g. road bikes, gravel bikes, MTBs. Probably ok on e-bikes and city bikes. 2_i: Bare cables routed through guides under bottom brackets. If you cannot run the cable against a sandpaper, that is the next best. Bmblbzzz: Press-fit bottom brackets for sure. [XAP]Bob: Anything UCI mandated. I know of no other organisation which has so suppressed development in their own field. Cowsham: Heavy children’s bikes – little wonder the wanes don’t take up cycling. nomm: Carbon – except maybe forks. Press-fit BB. Internal cable routing. Semi-integrated head sets. Hidden eyelet mounts for mudguards. Tubeless. Gravel bikes. Colin Jenkins: Yet ANOTHER wheel size! Mick F: 9t, 10t, and 11t sprockets are an abomination and should be banned for all bikes. If you want higher gears, use a bigger chainwheel.

Details Where: Across England Start/finish: Lowestoft to Land’s End Distance: 585 miles Photos: Jon Shaw

Top: Jurassic Coast Bottom: Meadow near Hindon looking towards Great Ridge Wood

E A ST TO W EST

G R E AT R I D E S

JON SHAW Jon has been exploring by bike since he was a teenager. His future plans include the Dorset Dirt Dash and Land’s End to John o’ Groats

Great Rides

EAST TO WEST In the summer of 2019, Jon Shaw cycled largely off-road from Lowestoft to Land’s End with his teenage son and daughter

he mountain biker who emerged from a gorse thicket on Cornwall’s Mulfra Hill looked sceptically at our bikes: a hybrid, a gravel bike, and an old 29er hardtail. “It’s a bit technical,” he said. I assured him we didn’t mind walking and thanked him, relieved that we could carry on across the moor. I hadn’t been able to find on the ground the track I could see on my phone and OS map. It was the end of a long day, the end of a two-week bike trek, and the teens were hangry. Up to that point we’d not fallen off once on our substantially off-road ride across England from Lowestoft to Land’s End. With 20 miles to go, that all changed! Fortunately we were cushioned by gorse… We made it to Land’s End youth hostel in time for dinner.

COAST AND CAPITAL When the kids were younger, we’d enjoyed a couple of cycle-camping trips with Cycling UK (then CTC). Since then I hadn’t manage to persuade them to cycle any further than school, apart from a weekend ride across Suffolk’s sandy heaths. But as neither had any plans for the summer, I shared my dream of a furthest-east to furthest-west coast-to-coast, as much of it as possible off-road. They bought into it. Not long after my son had finished his GCSEs and my daughter was back from her first year at uni, we were on our way… A biting wind whipping across the North

Wiltshire passed beneath our wheels, while buzzards circled on thermals in the sky

Sea accompanied us at the start from Lowestoft’s Ness Point. As it wasn’t a headwind and wasn’t raining, we counted our blessings and set off towards Southwold. From there we followed the rideable parts of the Sandlings Way. Away from the coast, the sun warmed us. Yet by Woodbridge we were tired and the teens were wondering if they’d bitten off more than they could chew. Pep-talk time. I explained that, unlike me – a 50-something office worker who had been training for this – they, being young, would soon grow strong as they put the miles behind them. This was partly why we started in the east. It gave us a chance to develop our cycling legs before the hilly challenges of the Ridgeway, Devon and Cornwall. The following days took us through Braintree on minor roads before the next off-road leg along the Flitch Way. In Essex we passed cricketers in white flannels on the greens, then headed into London along the tranquil Lee Valley. It slowly changed from verdant through industrial to the steel and glass of Canary Wharf. London on a bike isn’t a typical holiday-fun recipe, but there’s lots to see and plenty of cycle routes. We followed the Grand Union Canal to Windsor, where we caught the glorious pomp of a military band marching to Windsor Castle.

IRON AGE ENGLAND The long climb out of Streatley onto the chalk of the Ridgeway was our first proper hill.

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G R E AT R I D E S

E A ST TO W EST

Do it yourself

Clockwise: Mulfra Hill. Sea wall at Seaton. Ness Point, Lowestoft

Route planning I spent many evenings studying maps, assessing published routes, and stitching them together. I used bikehike.co.uk/ mapview.php for views of OpenStreetMap and OS mapping. To choose routes between unknown places, I mostly used cycle. travel/map along with cyclestreets.net. Google Maps and its Streetview function were also useful – for example, to find the speed limit on a section of road or view a turning. We stayed in places with bike shops and a choice of places to eat nearby. We were on a schedule as I’d booked train tickets from Penzance. I’d also booked most of the accommodation. One town was booked out due to a festival, so we had to cycle to the next town along.

Travelling light

For bikepacking advice and kit reviews, visit: cyclinguk.org/ bikepacking

Suffolk-born teens were unconvinced that this was not particularly steep! It felt like our adventure ride had really begun when we adjusted our tyre pressures down to cope with the rough stuff. The teens thought this was another crazy-dad-idea that would just make it more difficult, but even the hybrid’s modest 37mm tyres gave an improved ride when easily thumb-squashy. Packing light and riding cautiously downhill helped us avoid pinch-flats. The route to Marlborough is a gem of an offroad route that should be on every cyclist’s bucket list. The track was well signed, challenging enough for a family of our off-road-beginner ability, and deserted for long stretches. We only saw other people at the tourist-marked hill forts and chalk white horses that dot the route. We travelled through the heart of England with the sun on our backs. Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire passed beneath our wheels, while buzzards circled on thermals in the sky.

THE WESSEX RIDGEWAY After a day of rest and bike maintenance (including a new bottom bracket), the Avebury standing stones heralded the Wessex Ridgeway. This looks promising on the map but we found it poorly signed (some deliberately vandalised), badly maintained, and overgrown. It was too easy to stray from the right path, and too many times we ended up walking our bikes along overgrown bridleways that stung and scratched us. No horse could have navigated the route without injury. Each diversion cost us precious time, so we used

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Google Maps to find direct routes when we were too far behind schedule. The alternatives were often scenic but not always suitable for cycling. Some had kissing gates we had to heft our bikes over. We whizzed past the army ranges on Salisbury Plain, enjoying the expansive views. Next we rode through Warminster, then some boggy woodland, and crossed the busy A303. This took us to the beautiful village of Hindon, where a family cheered us as we passed them on the climb out of the village. And so into Dorset. After admiring the Cerne Abbas Giant, we struggled through a field of oilseed rape. We tortured our brakes on the descent into Lyme Regis and finished our day at a beach-side pub on the Cobb. There we lost a hard-earned slice of pizza to a well-honed dive from a wily herring gull, who knocked it onto the floor, gathered what he wanted, and flew off while we looked on agog. The next day was theoretically a rest day: we had only nine miles to ride to reach Beer. But we hadn’t anticipated the difficulty of the climb out of Lyme Regis from a cold start. Legs and lungs burned briefly, and tempers flared. I wondered how we would cope with the chevron-marked gradients ahead. However, our spirits revived as we admired the view down to the sea on the descent into Seaton. At Beer youth hostel we met a cyclist at who had started from Land’s End but abandoned his planned trip to John o’ Groats due to the weather forecast. He was heading home to East Anglia. We recommended visiting Lowestoft to mirror our route! From Beer we followed the Jurassic Coast on NCN Route 2 through Sidmouth to Exmouth, and then

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Lowestoft to Land’s End Distance: 585 miles over 14 days, plus one rest day. Route: Lowestoft, Ipswich, Cheshunt, London, Windsor, Reading, Avebury, Devizes, Warminster, Cerne Abbas, Beaminster, Lyme Regis, Seaton, Exmouth, Exeter, Okehampton, Callington, Bodmin, Truro, Camborne, Crowlas, Land’s End. GPX file: cyclinguk. org/cycle-magazine/ great-rides-east-west Nearest stations: Top: Neolithic henge monument at Avebury Bottom: Land’s End at last!

along the river into Exeter. I managed to choose somewhere to stay at the highest point in the city; elevation is not often mentioned on Airbnb!

NOWHERE FLAT The road to the north of Dartmoor was the only other time we came across long-distance cyclists. In closely-spaced small groups of six to ten, they were heading east, presumably riding LEJoG. I had considered taking an off-road route across the moor but decided against it. It was too great a challenge for our abilities, our bikes, and the uncertainty that the weather might throw in. From Okehampton, we swung south on NCN Route 27, which followed an old railway line over the breathtaking Meldon Viaduct. We passed to the south of Bodmin Moor. At Pensilva, we rode up a chevron-marked 200-metre climb without stopping and were rewarded with amazing views. Many more steep climbs and descents followed. The teens observed that nowhere was flat in Cornwall. As planned, however, the east-west route had developed our fitness and we rarely dismounted on climbs, instead challenging each other to the top. As I was carrying the lion’s share of the baggage, I always claimed the moral victory! Luggage-wise, we packed light. The teens each had a ten-litre seatpack for a change of clothes and toiletries, while I had a rack and small panniers and carried everything else – including crocs for the evenings, waterproofs, first aid kit, tools, spare tubes, and bike locks. I was always more heavily

laden in the mornings, as I carried food and drink for the day in a handlebar pack probably intended for a bikepacker’s tent. My load also increased as we travelled west: having a geology student in the posse meant we began acquiring interesting rocks on the way, including some fossils from Lyme Regis. Much of our route through Cornwall was on sunken lanes full of moisture-loving plants. The hedgerows were like an elongated Eden Project. To the west of Truro, around Redruth and Camborne, we passed former mines and their workings. It was such a contrast with the postcard-perfect coast. The moors to the north of Penzance were a deserted wilderness. Thanks to our chance meeting with the mountain biker at Mulfra, we made it to Land’s End youth hostel without admitting defeat and going through the city. I rallied the team after we ate at the hostel and we headed to England’s most westerly point. There we enjoyed a spectacular sunset and reflected on our trip with a huge sense of weary joy and achievement: 585 miles across England at its widest, about half of that off-road. It remains the longest trip we have ever made by bike, by a huge margin for the teens.

Lowestoft and Penzance. Terrain: 50% bridleways, byways, and other off-road routes, 50% minor roads. Conditions: Hot (often 30ºC or more) with generally light winds. We were lucky – expect rain and some headwinds.

Accommodation: Mostly YHAs and B&Bs. Bikes: Specialized Ariel hybrid, Kona Splice MTB, Genesis Vagabond gravel bike. I’m glad we had: GPS on the phone with audio prompts, paper OS maps, high-factor suncream, large water bottles and hydration packs. Also accommodation near near bike shops for unplanned maintenance and use of track pumps!

Next time I would: Complete the whole Wessex Ridgeway, cross Dartmoor off-road, and start earlier each day to give more time for sightseeing.

More info The Shaws’ trip raised £1,000 for Sue Ryder, Alzheimer’s Society, and Contented Dementia Trust. For more details, visit: www.lowle.uk

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SMALL WANDERS

OVERNIGHT LOCAL ADVENTURES ARE AN IDEAL ESCAPE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH A TODDLER IN TOW. ED SHOOTE ADVISES ON BIKEPACKING MINI-BREAKS

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ED SHOOTE Adventure traveller

Photography: Ed Shoote

Ed and wife Marion have previously cycled the Pamir Highway. Their website is welovemountains.net

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he last 18 months has given us all time to reflect. Many of us will be contemplating new adventures and looking forward to spending more quality time with loved ones. For those with young kids, an ideal way to celebrate our new-found freedom is to take them bikepacking. It’s easy to find an excuse not to get out of the door with kids. We get bogged down with what could go wrong, how much of a faff it is, and how they surely won’t sleep. But we can overthink what they want from an adventure. Keep it simple: a single night, riding from your doorstep. It could be camping, if that’s an option nearby, or a bike-friendly hotel or B&B. Small children don’t care if there’s an Instagram-friendly sunset because everything is an adventure to them. This last year has helped strip back what’s important. When our son Orrin was about 18 months old, we loved cycle touring with

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This photo: View of the Faerie Isles on Loch Sween in Argyll

a Chariot trailer. It was easy to load up and he mostly slept while we were on the move. We had planned for more cycle tours but since early 2020 that hasn’t panned out. Orrin is now three. It’s now a struggle for him to stay in a trailer for long but he’s too small to ride his own bike far. This makes touring a bit of a challenge. Our solution has been a minimalist childseat on the top tube. We then strap on bikepacking bags, I grab a rather too-well-loaded backpack, and we head off-road for adventure from where we live in southern Scotland.

A GREAT NIGHT OUT Our first trip since restrictions lifted: I was literally jumping up and down as we squeezed too much camping kit for ourselves and Orrin into various bags. Finally, after loading his own bar bag with toys and some snacks, we were ready. We left the house at 5pm. About two minutes later we reached the fish and chip shop and stopped: a well-fed toddler is always a good starting point! The riding soon began in earnest – and so did my indigestion.

As the track wound up a glen, the sun briefly disappeared behind rolling hills. Shadows lengthened. We spotted cows, tractors, herons in the river, and pheasants cawking up in front of us. The weather was fine but there were still puddles to splash. A quick jerk of the mini handlebar let me know Orrin’s preferred line choice. After a manageable 12km, and just as bedtime grouches started, we reached the camp spot. We were quickly off the bike looking for grass that wasn’t too ‘lumpy bumpy’, deciding on a patch near a small stream that had ample stones to throw in until camp was set. A hot chocolate was made. Stars appeared in the indigo sky. It was soon time to get into the tent and sleeping bags. While

SMALL CHILDREN DON’T CARE IF THERE’S AN INSTAGRAM-FRIENDLY SUNSET. EVERYTHING’S AN ADVENTURE TO THEM

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WHEN I’M TRAVELLING BY MYSELF I NORMALLY PACK LIGHT. WITH A TODDLER, YOU CAN’T CUT CORNERS a very early night was not on the cards, we played with toys, read a story, and Orrin nodded off easier than expected. After a remarkably good night’s sleep, we walked to the stream and grabbed a pan of water for porridge and coffee. It simmered on the stove while Orrin ‘helped’ me pack bags. Fed and fully loaded, we headed home a different way. There was a long push uphill before a fun singletrack descent, which generated a lot of whoops from my passenger. We stopped for a takeaway coffee and frothy milk in town, and were back home by about 10.30am. Test run complete, with a few lessons learned: hot chocolate works; it gets cold in the tent; and snacks and toys in his own little bar bag are a winner.

PACKING STRATEGIES When taking young kids bike touring off-road, it’s best to have their weight either in a trailer or on the front so as to spread the load on the bike. With a rear seat plus panniers (if you can fit them), there’s a huge amount of weight over the rear wheel. The other option is to use a luggage trailer for all the kit. When I’m travelling by myself, I normally pack very light because it’s only me that will shiver or lose feeling in my feet in my wet shoes. With a toddler, you obviously can’t cut corners. Most kids’ camping kit is cheap summer-only stuff or ‘sleepover’ focused, so there are limited quality options out there. Sleeping bags tend to be synthetic (in case they get wet...) and have cotton liners for comfort. With sleeping mats, we find it best to use a lightweight adult one for Orrin: it is warmer and actually packs smaller and lighter than a kids’ one. To carry everything, I use a large

Top to bottom: Camping at Loch Pattack. Gravel track nr Dalwhinnie. Throwing stones at a snack stop, Linn of Quoich

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TYKE-PACKING KIT

SHOTGUN CHILD BIKE SEAT & HANDLEBARS COMBO £147 The seat is good and better still with the mini bars. We also take the Kids MTB Hip Pack (£30) for toys.

kidsrideshotgun.co.uk

APIDURA BACKCOUNTRY FOOD POUCH £35 This is perfect to strap on the mini bars, with whatever your little one wants to store in it – ideally snacks and toys. apidura.com

This photo: Misty sunrise after camping at Loch Pattack

TO ORRIN’S EXCITEMENT, A FREIGHT TRAIN STOPPED NEARBY AND THE DRIVER GAVE US A FRIENDLY HOOT saddlebag, a bar bag and a 40-litre backpack (keeping my fingers crossed that my back holds up). This lets us ride on traffic-free off-road trails. Orrin loves singletrack.

FURTHER AFIELD After a few more local adventures, including some with friends, we were finally allowed to travel further afield. With a good forecast, a central Highlands adventure beckoned… We started late again, wild-camping just outside Dalwhinnie. To Orrin’s excitement there was an early morning view of the main train line up to Inverness. A freight train stopped nearby, and as we ran over we were rewarded with a winning hoot from the driver. I reflected that we really must take the train to start the next trip. Back on the bike, the track along Loch Ericht was a great start, offering

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epic views to the castle-like Ben Alder Lodge. We took a track uphill before detouring on a little loop towards Ben Alder, then enjoyed some singletrack to Loch Pattack. This was our overnight camp spot. We pitched our tent by the loch on an open bit of grass, hoping the midges would abate. The plan worked with a little help from a small driftwood fire on the stones. The sun was out and so we had a dip in the loch. Despite a daylight-filled tent, Orrin soon nodded off. Next day we rode towards Loch Laggan, where the River Pattack offered waterfalls and several swim spots on a glorious summer’s day. Our route took us north on gravel tracks for another great camp spot before we finished at Laggan Wolftrax trail centre. A loop on the easiest trails and cake in the cafe put smiles on our faces. It was a great ending to our trip. Without the pandemic, I doubt we’d have got out as much. We’d have focused on bigger trips rather than discovering these local doorstep adventures. But we’ve loved riding locally and certainly don’t miss the stress and hassle that comes from taking a toddler overseas.

PERSONALISED KID’S CAMPING CUP £10 We were given a personalised enamel camping cup for Orrin and he loves it. Various on etsy.com, e.g. bit.ly/tractor-kids-mug

GRUEZI KIDS GROW SLEEPING BAG €69.99 This German bag is eco-friendly, warm, and expands as your kid grows. You can get Gruezi bags in the UK. en.gz-bag.de

DIDRIKSONS KID’S PILEGLOVE £15 On cooler days their hands get cold quickly and make them miserable. We find the Didriksons padded mitts good. didriksons.com

Top to bottom: Josh riding along Belfast’s Maritime Mile. The Great Light. The Salmon of Knowledge. Outside the Titanic Museum

Weekender

Belfast by bike The new Maritime Heritage Trail is a journey through the rich history of Northern Ireland’s capital city. Josh Murray is your guide

JOSH MURRAY Cycling UK engagement officer for Northern Ireland

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he Maritime Heritage Trail was created as part of Cycling UK’s Routes and Roots project, which was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund NI and the Department of Communities. The trail connects East Belfast and Sailortown through a journey across Belfast, taking in the city’s maritime history and heritage along the way. The trail is approximately four miles long, virtually pan flat, and all on safe cycling Cycling UK infrastructure. It provides the perfect in N Ireland opportunity for people of all ages and For information on groups, projects, and abilities to discover by bike the rich history more, visit: cyclinguk. that Belfast is famous for. Along the way org/northernthere are plenty of opportunities to grab a ireland coffee and a bun. The start/end of the trail is St Joseph’s in Sailortown or CS Lewis Square in East Belfast; you can start at whichever end suits you best. These two locations are easily accessed via the Lough Shore cycleway and the Connswater Community Greenway. Belfast Bikes has a number of docking stations on the trail, so you don’t have to bring your own bike.

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4 Weekend ride

BELFAST BY BIKE Route name: Maritime Heritage Trail Start/finish: St Joseph’s (Sailortown) and CS Lewis Square (East Belfast) Maps: print one from cyclinguk.org/routes-and-roots Ride length: 4.3 miles/6.9km Climbing: 112 feet Bike type: Any Ride level: Beginner GPX file: cyclinguk.org/route/maritime-heritage-trail

CS LEWIS SQUARE Named after the Belfastborn author, CS Lewis Square is a popular place in East Belfast for locals to come and meet. It’s a location you can come to learn about the area and take in the sights, which include many amazing sculptures recreated from the book, ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’.

Samson and Goliath The Harland and Wolff shipyard, founded in 1861 by Edward James Harland and Gustav Wilhelm Wolff, was once one of the biggest employers in the country. The most famous symbols of the shipyard are the yellow cranes, Samson and Goliath.

T HE GREAT LIGHT The Great Light is approximately 130 years old and is one of the biggest optics of its kind in the world. It is an almighty specimen, weighing over ten tonnes and measuring over seven metres in height. It produced one of the strongest beams that a lighthouse has ever shone, hence the name.

Titanic Museum The Titanic museum was opened in 2012. Park your bike and go inside to learn about the history of the Titanic and its sister ships, RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic. In the same vicinity you can also visit the SS Nomadic and the HMS Caroline.

The Big Fish Known to locals as ‘the Big Fish’, the mosaic sculpture’s true name is the Salmon of Knowledge. Created by artist John Kindness, the sculpture is ten metres long and clad in tiles. Each one tells a story about the city using pictures, text, and newspaper cuttings.

St Joseph’s Church In 2000 the church was closed to be deconsecrated but in 2006 campaigners secured a 150-year lease for it. Thanks to the Sailortown Regeneration Project, it’s being restored to its former glory and has now been repurposed as a community hub.

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Map © OpenStreetMap, produced with Inkatlas.com. Photos by Michael Taylor

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More great routes The Cycling UK website has details of more than 200 cycling routes, from short family-friendly ones on cycle tracks through to off-road epics such as the Great North Trail. cyclinguk.org/routes

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The UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow should focus attention

WARM ING TO CYCLING

Active travel is moving up the political agenda as dots are finally being joined between transport and climate change. Keir Gallagher reports

Above: Allan Shedlock

he spring elections may now seem long past but, when it comes to campaigning for cycling and active travel, we’re just beginning to see how the results are impacting the political landscape. The story is a positive one, not of radical change but of a steadily building cross-party consensus. This presents opportunities to raise up the voices of normal people and demand a greater focus from national and local governments across the UK on cycling. In Scotland and Wales, although the SNP and Welsh Labour retained power respectively, this hasn’t stopped a new focus on climate change and carbon reduction being pushed to the fore. In Wales, the transport brief now sits under the Minister and Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Julie James MS and Lee Waters MS. A similar shift in Scotland sees the Minister for Transport, Graeme Day MSP, reporting up to the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson MSP.

ROADS TO NOWHERE It’s no coincidence that these changes in focus come in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November. Yet that does not

KEIR GALLAGHER Cycling UK campaigns manager Keir joined Cycling UK’s campaigns team in 2018, combining his passions of activism and all things cycling

detract from their significance. This recognition of the intrinsic links between transport and climate change is good news for cycling, which has the potential to play a key role in decarbonising transport over the coming decade. In theory, it should also signal a move away from the sometimes contradictory policies adopted by governments UK-wide when it comes to offering the public greener transport options. For example, in England, while the Department for Transport is, at the time of writing, developing its plan to reduce transport emissions, it’s still committed to a £27bn investment in major road upgrades, which threatens to encourage more people into their cars. In Wales, however, we’re already beginning to see a change in tack: the emphasis on tackling climate change follows on from the new transport strategy published just before the election, which aims to halve transport emissions between 2020 and 2030, by encouraging, amongst other changes, an increase in people using public transport, walking, and cycling. Actions, of course, speak louder than words, and it’s heartening to see that the new government is not shying away from difficult decisions: in June, almost

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all new road building schemes in Wales were frozen to allow a review, with a stated intention from Lee Waters MS of ‘redirecting investment’. The same cannot yet be said for the rest of the UK when it comes to major roads projects, but a benefit of the devolved governmental system means that where one country leads, others often follow. There’s no doubt that this action in Wales will help campaigners push for a similar approach in Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland.

Above: Wales aims to halve transport emissions between 2020 and 2030 Below: Safe cycling networks are vital to persuade people onto bikes

When it comes to direct investment in cycling, although there’s a long way to go, the elections also highlighted the growing consensus across the political spectrum supporting increased funding. Both of the national hustings events in Wales and Scotland were dominated by politicians – would you believe it – agreeing with each other about the need for more funding for cycling and enabling more people to choose active travel options. This cross-party support is testament to the slow-burn impact of campaigning by Cycling UK and many other organisations and groups. The conversation about investment in active travel is shifting away from ‘if’ and towards ‘how much?’. In Scotland, most parties signed up to support Cycling UK’s call for 10% of transport spending to be directed to active travel. While the SNP’s commitment fell short of this, the support from opposition parties will help keep up the pressure – especially as the Scottish Greens, on the back of their best ever election result, hold the balance of power, with the SNP short of a majority. Other commitments in the SNP manifesto – such as providing a free bike to all children who cannot afford one, and cycle training to support that, could help create a new generation of cyclists. Having a bike is only part of the puzzle, of course: comprehensive safe networks are also required – and currently lacking. The English elections also saw councillors from 47 different highway authorities pledge their support for increasing investment in cycling, including councillors from all main political parties – a real demonstration that this need not be a partypolitical issue. And, while it’s always hard to draw generalisations from local elections, it’s worth noting the success of the Green Party, which more than doubled its councillor count, indicating a growing recognition by voters of the importance of climate change as a key consideration in political decision making. More voices – from all political parties – recognising this link, especially in the context of transport, must be a good thing.

PEDALLING: THE MESSAGE So, what does this mean for cycling campaigning in the coming years? There’s plenty on the horizon:

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Left: James Craig

CHANGING GEAR

SUPPORT FOR CYCLING IS OFTEN DROWNED OUT BY A VOCAL MINORITY

COP26 is a chance to focus minds on reducing transport emissions, and an opportunity to hold UK governments to account on their active travel commitments. Meanwhile, 2022 brings local elections in Scotland, Wales, London, and a handful of other English councils, as well as national elections in Northern Ireland – provided those aren’t brought forward. The consensus of support for active travel provides a strong base on which to make the right arguments to the right people and build the case for serious investment in networks of high-quality cycle lanes, supported by measures to enable those in rural areas to cycle. It’s not just about cycling: it’s about towns, cities and rural communities designed for people, rejuvenating our high streets while helping people stay healthy and active. But to secure that we need to raise up the voices of the public who support these aims. We know the consensus is there. Poll after poll shows support for reallocation of investment – and road space – towards cycling. Yet that support is often drowned out by a vocal minority. As campaigners, on a national and local level, our role is to facilitate and enable thousands more to speak up in for cycling and demand ambitious action from their representatives. Cycling UK’s growing Cycle Advocacy Network will therefore be central to upping the pressure on politicians, bringing together campaigners, and developing the tools needed to empower people to secure impactful change in their communities.

TO PE A K

ADVERTORIAL

Must-have multitools, saddlebags and the iconic JoeBlow pump

Advertorial

TOPEAK HAS THE TOOLS TO HELP YOU ROLL WITH THE PUNCTURES From flat tyres to on-the-road rattles, nothing will stop your ride with Topeak’s unbeatable range of tools

o to nearly any bicycle shop or visit any cyclist’s garage in the UK, and you’re almost sure to see the glint of a bright yellow Topeak JoeBlow Sport track pump. The familiar sight has become a mainstay to almost every cyclist, whether you’re just starting out or are racing at the highest level. Topeak hasn’t rested on its laurels though, and every year makes improvements across the board, or creates new products to better serve the changing needs of modern cycling. With the growing prominence of tubeless tyres on both mountain, road, and leisure bikes, Topeak has increased its Tubi range, products designed to help with the installation, preparation, and repair of tubeless tyres. This Tubi range is led by the innovative Tubi 2Stage pump, that allows for the removal and installation of the tyre’s valve core to help quickly and easily seat tubeless tyres, without losing pressure or sealant. The 2Stage system also allows the user to select between high volume – low

pressure, or high pressure – low volume action to pump any tyre efficiently. The development work on the Tubi range doesn’t mean that everyday riders using tubed setups have been forgotten. The JoeBlow Sport III is the third iteration of the highly successful JoeBlow Sport pump range. It offers outstanding reliable performance at a price point that’s hard to beat. The 3” pressure gauge is easy to read and provides accurate pressure readings of up to 160psi, with the TwinHead DX connector allowing seamless ease of use, on Presta, Schrader and even Dunlop valves. The 318cc stroke volume also makes filling high-volume tyres a breeze so you can get out on the road even faster. Although no one wants to plan for getting a puncture or mechanical on a ride, it’s always best to be prepared for the worst. Of course, Topeak has a range of products to get you out of most situations at the roadside, and luggage sets to give riders easy access to all their essentials including frame bags, seat packs and top tube bags – especially useful for storing those

mid-ride snacks within arm’s reach. To get riders out of most roadside repairs, the Hexus-X is the latest iteration of the well-known Topeak Hexus tool line. It includes almost everything to deal with the majority of roadside repairs including a chain tool, tyre levers, the most common Allen key sizes and even a selection of Torx bits for tightening up loose brake rotor bolts, handlebar clamps and some seatpost bolts. There are other tools in the Topeak range if you’re looking for even more capacity including the all-inclusive Alien-X tool, featuring a whopping 40-function capacity, or the classic Topeak Survival Gear Box, a compact storage box containing 23 pro-quality hardened tools, tyre levers and a puncture repair kit. With Topeak tools you’ll never be left stranded at the roadside. Prepare to ride, with Topeak.

More Information If you would like to know more about the Topeak range, please visit the website at www.topeak.com/global/en/products C YCL I NGUK . O RG

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Details Where: Lincolnshire Start/finish: Louth Distance: 224km (139 miles) Photos: Mark Hibbert Media Services & Alf Alderson

Top: Near Belchford. (Alf & Mark not present) Bottom: The village of Somersby (ditto)

LINCOLNSHIRE

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ALF ALDERSON Alf is an adventure travel writer, covering everything from skiing and surfing to mountain biking and cycling

Great Rides

FLAT OUT Keen to escape the post-lockdown summer crowds, Alf Alderson headed to the deserted backroads of Lincolnshire

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o that’s 730 metres of climbing we’ve done today,” I said. “But this is Lincolnshire!” replied my mate, Mark. Like most people, both of us had expected Lincolnshire to be mirror flat. And like most people, we were wrong. Our first day had taken in 88km of empty roads and, according to my Garmin, a not unreasonable amount of ascent, which in places – such as Red Hill near Goulceby – was as steep as 11%. Red Hill is in the Lincolnshire Wolds, and there’s a clue in that little word ‘Wolds’ as to what you’ll find. ‘Wold’ is an old English word used to describe high forest land (the forest is long gone hereabouts). Calling the Wolds ‘high’ is perhaps pushing it – we never got above about 150 metres – but we nevertheless enjoyed tremendous views, including panoramas of the flatlands to the east for which the area is better known, and which we would also be exploring.

WOLD GOLD Out first day saw us setting off from the expansive grounds of our accommodation at Brackenborough Hall Coach House, from where a short 4km spin took us into Louth and the first coffee of the day. I know: 4km is a pathetic distance to ride before your first coffee, but we wanted to see a little of ‘Britain’s favourite market town’ (according to BBC’s Countryfile) before we hit the road properly. We couldn’t resist a coffee at the same time. Louth is home to the impressive St James’ Church, which has the tallest medieval parish church spire in England, an array of lovely red brick architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries, a plethora of busy, independent shops, and three busy market days a week.

Do it yourself

Lincolnshire touring Louth is an excellent base for cycling in Lincolnshire as it sits between the Wolds and the flatlands towards the coast, offering routes to suit all levels of ability and fitness. It’s an attractive market town with a fine selection of independent shops, bars and restaurants, and is well worth exploring if you have any rest days. Louth is easily reached by road but unfortunately doesn’t have a train station; the nearest stations are in Grimsby and Market Rasen, both about 15 miles away.

From Louth we rode south towards South Thoresby: flatlands to the east and the low humps of the Wolds to the west. The map indicated that we were riding through gently undulating countryside, but other than the occasional short, steep incline the terrain was unchallenging. Best of all it was virtually car-free. Veering west into the heart of the Wolds, we rode on minor country lanes and a few bridleways, since we were both on gravel bikes. Even on tarmac we would bowl along for minutes at a time without seeing another vehicle. Blue, cloud-pocked skies rose above rolling fields of bright yellow rape and emerald green cereals, interspersed with neat farms and tidy, attractive little villages. The only sound was the hum of our tyres and the birdsong from leafy trees and blossomdotted hedgerows. Eventually we pulled over for lunch at the Post and Pantry in Donington on Bain, where I had the finest ginger cake of my life, before continuing on our way past the only intrusion from the 21st century that we’d seen in hours – the 351-metre Belmont transmitting station, once the tallest in the world. Turning east to ride back to Louth, we tackled the aforementioned Red Hill, from the summit of which a marvellous 4km ridge ride allowed us to see across much of north Lincolnshire before eventually depositing us back on the outskirts of town.

MAINLY ON THE PLAIN Our second day’s riding would be far easier: a loop out to the coast at Saltfleet, on terrain as flat as a billiard table. We never got above the 20-metre contour line at any point on this ride, which was unfortunately cut short by torrential rain.

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Top: A gravel bike or tourer is fine for the area’s bridleways Bottom: Lanes south of Louth

Lincolnshire Wolds

More to explore

For more about cycling in Lincolnshire, visit: cyclinguk. org/cycle/cyclinglincolnshire

This kind of landscape won’t appeal to everyone, but I’ve always had a fascination with these horizontal, empty and indefinably melancholic panoramas, with their vast views and almost total absence of humanity. Leaving Brackenborough Hall towards the village of Alvingham, the quiet roads became literally deserted as we traversed the bridleway across Conisholme Fen and beneath the whirling blades of a small windfarm. Then we hit the longest section of A-road on our entire trip: the 3km or so into North Somercotes. We were soon able to leave the traffic behind, darting south off the A1031 onto what were little more than rough tarmac tracks across the ‘ings’. The name that reveals the region’s links with the Vikings; it’s an old Norse word referring to water meadows and marshes. Looking over our shoulders we could see the Wolds rising towards the sky a few miles away, a sky that was a deep, bruised blue, and from which dense sheets of rain were falling. It was heading our way. Ten-minutes later it arrived. Cold, hard pellets of rain bounced off the road. Even the swans on the dykes we were riding alongside rushed to get out of the downpour. “Coffee stop!” Mark shouted. The only trouble was we couldn’t find one. It is a quiet area… Just south of Saltfleet we decided to cut our losses and head for home (and coffee). Riding past Saltfleetby St Clement and Saltfleetby St Peter (pronounced ‘Soloby’), we arrived back at Brackenborough after a mere 46km of riding.

SEASIDE AND SCENERY Given our aborted ride, Mark and I decided that our last day in Lincolnshire should take in a defining

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mix of coast and hills, which is why the following morning we were to be found riding alongside the amusement arcades and candy floss stalls of Mablethorpe after an easy jaunt across the ‘ings’ from Louth. Threading our way between hyped-up kids, stressed parents, barking dogs, crazy golf courses, and boating ponds, we eventually turned inland as the sun burst forth, our destination the bucolic Claythorpe Mill, where we fed ourselves, along with the ducks and trout in the millpond. From Claythorpe, the Wolds did what the Wolds seem to do so well, leading us gently on to elevated riding with the minimum of effort on refreshingly quiet roads. The views went on for miles across a quintessentially English landscape of fields, farms, hedgerows, woodland and villages. I’m sure I could see Lincoln Cathedral way off to the south. With the sun shining and the wind at our backs, this really was glorious riding. As our longest day on the bikes (94km) came to a close at the Boar’s Head pub in Louth, I wondered why we hear so little about the Lincolnshire Wolds as a cycling destination. You can make a ride here as easy or as hard as you like, the roads are some of the quietest you’re ever likely to encounter in England, and Louth makes for a lovely base. Get there quick before everyone else discovers it…

More Info Useful websites for planning your own trip to the Lincolnshire Wolds: cycle-england.co.uk, lovelincolnshirewolds.com, brackenboroughhall.com/stables

Distance: Total: 224 km (139 miles). Daily: 88km, 46km, 94km. Routes: Rolling hills, flat coastline, and salt flats. Conditions: Sunshine and showers (mainly sunshine) on days one and three, pouring rain for most of day two. Very quiet backroads, occasional well-surfaced bridleways. Accommodation: Brackenborough Hall Coach House near Louth – cycle-friendly accommodation in a lovely converted 18th century coach house. Bike used: On-One Bish, Bash, Bosh gravel bike. Maps/guides: OS Landrangers 113 (Grimsby, Louth & Market Rasen) and 122 (Skegness & Horncastle). Maps are also available to download here: bit.ly/ lincs-wolds-route I’m glad I had… A new Madison Peloton waterproof jacket for the rain, and my Alpkit Gourdon 20 lightweight backpack for camera and other essentials. Next time I would… Check out more of the bridleways and other offroad trails in the Wolds.

ABUS

ADVERTORIAL

ABUS helmets now feature the MIPS system

Advertorial

ABUS OFFERS COMFORTABLE, PROLEVEL HELMETS FOR ALL CYCLISTS The URBAN-I 3.0 and HYBAN 2.0 – ABUS’s most popular urban helmets – are now available with the added security of MIPS

BUS are well known for their locks and home security systems, keeping your possessions safe and secure, but did you know they also have a full range of helmets for every type of bicycle rider? If you’ve been watching any of the Grand Tour races this year, you’ll have no doubt already seen the helmets worn by teams like Movistar, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get your hands on pro-level equipment too. Some of ABUS’s most popular helmets contain technology from the highest tiers of performance, but in a range of styles and with features more suited to the daily commute, touring or leisure riding. The ABUS Urban-I 3.0 MIPS is one of the most versatile and popular helmets in the ABUS line-up, with market-leading features that add additional protection and convenience all-year round. The Fidlock magnetic buckle closure is easy to use, even with thick winter gloves on, and the Zoom Ace adjustable retention system allows on-the-fly fine tune adjustment to ensure the perfect fit. The helmet has even been designed to be

ponytail compatible, allowing for a better fit for those with longer hair. For added conspicuity, the helmet also adds a rear-mounted LED light and reflectors, giving 180° of visibility for other road users. The latest version of the URBAN-I 3.0 MIPS, as the name suggest, also incorporates MIPS® (Multi-directional Impact Protection System). The MIPS® system features a lowfriction layer inside the helmet that allows a multi-directional movement of 10-15mm on certain angled impacts. This layer is intended to help reduce rotational force to the head during impacts, potentially minimising injuries. As you’d imagine, the helmet has all the other features you’d expect, including 12 air inlets and five air outlets for maximum ventilation, and an integrated bug mesh to keep flying critters away! The helmet comes in two sizes, (55-58cm and 56-61cm) and three different colours, including a high-visibility yellow option, perfect for urban commuting all-year-round. Sharing a lot of the features of the higher-tier Urban-I 3.0, the Hyban 2.0 MIPS packs a serious punch at an affordable

price. The Hyban 2.0 MIPS has a hard ABUS outer shell and incorporates the MIPS® system to reduce the risks associated with impact and rotation injuries in a package more suited for the everyday urban commute. The Zoom Ace height adjustable retention system helps to provide that secure fit for a variety of head shapes and sizes and the helmet uses a more traditional clip to secure it, with padding around the chin for added comfort. ABUS understand that in a busy city visibility is key and so the HYBAN 2.0 also comes with an integrated LED mounted on the rear of the helmet and high-intensity reflective graphics. It is available in both black and high-visibility yellow for a safe and stylish package.

More Information If you would like to know more about the ABUS helmet range, please visit the website at mobil.abus.com C YC L I NGUK . O RG

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Advice

CYCLOPEDIA Left: Alamy

Right: Alamy

Questions answered, subjects explained – Cyclopedia is your bimonthly cycling reference guide After long or intense cycling, blood can register as anaemic

Technical

Drivetrain dilemma

Q & A

I have been searching for replacement chainrings for a 4-arm Truvativ FireX, ISIS Drive, triple 28-38-48T 104/64BCD. It appears that Truvativ/SRAM 104 BCD rings are no longer made in the size I would like and I can’t find old, unused stock. Do you know of any good quality chainring brands that will fit this triple crank? Simon Steel

Health

Cyclists’ anaemia?

Your Experts

Twice when I went to give blood, after cycling six miles at speed, my blood wasn’t taken as a test showed it to be low in iron. I then had a test by the local GP and found I wasn’t anaemic. Why is this? Tom Ambrose

Healthy people who donate blood may be told after intense or long-distance cycling that they are anaemic and iron deficient, yet they're not when retested later. This phenomenon has been recognised in marching soldiers since 1881, and subsequently in long-distance runners. It has only recently been described in cyclists and swimmers, who don't heavily impact their feet. There are several elements to the anaemia: the red blood cells get physically smashed with impact to the feet; the blood volume of an endurance athlete can be 6-7 litres rather than 4-5 litres, so the blood is diluted and has a lower haemoglobin concentration due to the excess plasma volume; and there is a small loss of blood into the gut during endurance sports. This all contributes Coronavirus to the abnormal tests after exercise. For up-to-date It isn’t an illness but a normal cyclists' advice consequence of heavy training and regarding Covid-19, sports performance. visit: cyclinguk.org/ Dr Kate Hattersley coronavirus

DR KATE HATTERSLEY Cycling GP {Health}

The likelihood of finding direct replacements for nine-speed four-arm 104/64mm BCD chainrings in the specific sizes you require is low. Given the limitations of the ISIS drive bottom bracket design, which offers no significant advance on the proven square-taper system, a conventional triple chainset with square-taper axle fitting would offer an easy, long-term solution at a cost not much greater than that of a pair of chainrings. Touring specialist Spa Cycles (spacycles. co.uk) sells cranks and chainrings separately, allowing you to fit the chainrings of your choice. Richard Hallett

RICHARD HALLETT Cycle’s Technical Editor {Technical}

Technical

Gears for touring RICHARD GAFFNEY Principal Lawyer, Slater + Gordon Lawyers {Legal}

The review of the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 in the Feb/Mar issue comments on the fact that the gearing is too high for a tourer, and I agree. In a letter in the next

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Q&A

month’s magazine, a reader said he has swapped the Tiagra chainset for a Deore 48-38-26 one. My local shop says you can’t mix Tiagra shifters with a Deore chainset. What is your advice about the compatibility issue? Iain Kitt

The spacing of the 10-speed chainrings should be the same. An MTB bottom bracket assembly is 5mm wider than a road BB so the Deore chainline will be 2.5mm further outboard, but the Tiagra triple front mech should be able to handle this if adjusted to suit. Richard Hallett Dan Joyce adds: As proof of this, you can buy off-the-peg touring bikes that mix mountain bike triple chainsets and road front derailleurs. Surly’s Disc Trucker (pictured) has a 48-3626 Shimano Alivio mountain bike chainset and a Shimano Sora road bike front derailleur. (Alivio and Sora are one tier lower than Deore and Tiagra respectively.)

You can report thorns or mud on the road using fillthathole.org.uk

Legal

Thorn in my side

Above: Alamy

Last winter was grim not only because of the wet weather but because of punctures caused by hedge clippings and mud with sharp stones strewn across country roads for mile upon mile. Are farmers under any legal obligation to clear up the mess they make? Is there any statutory advice as to what is reasonable, as opposed to what is unacceptable or presents a danger? Simon Gardner

Along with highway authorities and other private landowners, farmers owe a duty of care to the public by ensuring that their actions do not create a dangerous situation in the normal everyday usage of the road. When you encounter a road dangerously littered with thorn hedge trimmings or covered in thick layers of mud from a farm entrance, I would recommend that you contact the police or local council. They can take the appropriate action to make the road safe for use. And if someone is subsequently injured, the responsible party will be unable to deny that they were unaware of the problem. If you are injured or suffer property damage as a result of a third party’s negligence, you may have the basis of a legal claim. In order to establish liability for failure to maintain a highway, the claimant must prove: – That the highway was in such condition that it was dangerous to traffic and/or pedestrians in the sense that, in the ordinary course of human affairs, danger may be reasonably foreseen from its continued use by the public. – The dangerous condition was created by the failure to maintain or repair the highway. – The injury or damage resulted from such failure. Failure to establish any of the three criteria above will result in the claim being dismissed. The test for creating a dangerous situation was viewed as a test of reasonably foreseeable harm to the users of the highway. The cases of Mills v Barnsley and Griffiths v Gwynedd CC introduced a fourth element when dealing with highway authorities: that of practicality. Practicality is an analysis of cost, benefit, and location. In Griffiths v Gwynedd CC, a cyclist swerved to avoid debris but cycled into a defect known by the authority and fell on a mountain road. The case and appeal were dismissed as the remoteness of the accident location made it impractical for the authority to repair the defect. If you have been injured or your property damaged in such circumstances, take a high-quality photograph or video that shows the size and location of the obstruction(s)

CYCLO PE D IA

or defect(s). Such evidence also provides a record, because defects/ obstructions can be removed or repaired at short notice. Richard Gaffney

The Swytch kit, like many hub motors, can be built into a suitable 20in wheel

Technical

E-bike conversion

I have a Tern Verge folding bike and wonder if this can be converted to electric? If so, what motor would you recommend and who could do it? Andrew Davidson

The Tern Verge X11 rolls on 28-451 tyres, or 20×1 1/8" in old money. The easiest option would be to fit a 20" front wheel conversion kit. They are straightforward to fit, although many outlets will do the conversion if you’d prefer not to do it yourself. Just make sure that the 20" wheel rim diameter is the same as your current one: 451mm if your Tern has the same size wheels as the Verge X11. Richard Hallett

Get in touch EMAIL your technical, health, or legal questions to editor@cyclinguk.org or write to Cyclopedia, Cycle, PO Box 313, Scarborough, YO12 6WZ. We regret that Cycle magazine cannot answer unpublished queries. But don’t forget that Cycling UK operates a free-to-members advice line for personal injury claims, TEL: 0330 107 1789.

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CYCLOPEDIA

w o h w o Kn Making sense of commonly misunderstood subjects

NATASHA CHALK Solicitor (Foreign Qualified) for Slater and Gordon, who represent Cycling UK members

Collisions

What should I do after a crash with another road user?

Road defects

f you are involved in a collision with another road user and suffer personal injury or damage your bicycle, there are some important points to remember.

CHECK FOR INJURIES Don’t just get back on your bike and ride away. You could be disorientated, concussed, or more badly hurt than you realise. Check yourself and others involved for injuries and, if able, move out of the way of traffic. If anyone has suffered severe injuries, call 999. Seek medical advice even for minor injuries: visit your GP or local A&E for advice and to evidence your injury.

ASSESS DAMAGE If you can, take photos of the damage to your bicycle and any other damaged items. Keep hold of any damaged items so that they are available for inspection. Keep a list of all damaged items and out-of-pocket expenses as these can form part of your claim.

IDENTIFY WHO CAUSED THE INCIDENT Collect the names, addresses and insurance details of anyone involved in the incident. If relevant, make a note of the registration details as well as the vehicle's colour or model. Avoid admitting fault, verbally or otherwise. Try to stay calm and avoid becoming angry or aggressive. Don't leave the scene before the

Car-dooring isn't an accident – it's an offence

incident has been reported (if necessary) and all relevant steps have been taken. If the police attend, take details of the investigating officer and the police reference number.

WITNESSES Get names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses to the incident as soon as possible. Witnesses may be required to provide evidence in any potential claim for damages, especially where there are conflicting accounts.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS Take note of the scene of the incident including date, time, and weather conditions. If possible, take photos of the vehicles in position. Try to reference the location by road signs or other fixed landmarks. If you have an on-bike camera or the vehicles involved have dash cams, try to get details so that the footage can be traced.

CONTACT THE CYCLING UK INCIDENT LINE Call the Cycling UK Incident Line (cyclinguk. org/incidentline) on 0330 107 1789 for assistance in making a claim for your injuries or damage to your bicycle.

It’s not just other road users: potholes or other road defects can also cause crashes. Hitting a pothole on a badly maintained road can damage your bicycle and possibly cause you injury as a result. In such a case, your local council may be liable to pay you compensation. In addition to the main points (left), if you are knocked off your bicycle by a pothole or other road defect, take photos with another item in shot to help illustrate the size of pothole or defect (a tin of beans or a water bottle, perhaps). Accurate measurements can be extremely helpful too. And don't forget to log road defects at fillthathole.org.uk

Key points to remember Are you insured?

Top: Julie Skelton

It's easy to overlook these in the heat of the moment.

If anyone has suffered serious injuries, call 999

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Assess your bicycle for damage

AU G U ST/ SE PTEMBER 2021

Exchange details with the other party

Take contact details of any witnesses

Take photos

Contact the Cycling UK Incident Line

Cycling UK membership gives you £10million thirdparty liability cover, plus legal assistance. For more types of insurance, visit cyclinguk.org/ insurance

Biketest

Less famous folders The Brompton is iconic but far from the only folding bike option. Dan Joyce tests a £200 B’Twin Oxylane 100 and a big-wheeled Tern Node D8

A DAN JOYCE Cycle editor Dan has owned a Brompton for 20 years but still wishes it handled better

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s brilliant as the Brompton is at folding compactly and travelling fuss free on public transport, it’s not the best folder for every cyclist. Not everyone can afford a fourfigure price tag – or justify it if the bike might be used infrequently. Not everyone wants the cycling experience you get on 16-inch wheels, nor needs such diminutive folded dimensions. The two folders here are different from the Brompton in different ways. Decathlon’s B’Twin Oxylane 100, formerly known as the Tilt 100, costs a mere £199.99. (Last year it was £149.99!) Cheap folders have a poor reputation. They are typically heavy, handle poorly, and have flexible hinges. Yet Decathlon has good form when it comes to offering decent bikes at bargain prices. The Tern Node D8, which I recommended in the Cycle Shopper feature last issue, is defined by its 24-inch wheels. It’s essentially a conventional city bike that happens to fold down for storage. At £900 (up from £850 earlier this year), it’s clearly not a direct competitor to the budget B’Twin.

Frame & folding: B’Twin Like many budget bikes, the B’Twin has a high-tensile steel frame and fork. Hi-ten is strong and heavy. Despite being a spartan singlespeed, the Oxylane 100 tips the scales at 13.4kg. It shares its frame with the Oxylane 120 (£249.99), which has 6-speed derailleur gearing, mudguards, and a kickstand, so there are fittings for those things on this model too, as well as rear rack mounts. The frame simply folds in half. With the stem folded and the seatpost lowered, this results in a train-friendly package measuring 76×67×41cm. The short folded length is due to the fact that it’s a short bike to begin with: the wheelbase is only 92cm. (A Brompton, which folds into thirds, has a 104cm wheelbase.) Folding took me 20-30 seconds. The pedals don’t fold. The frame hinge has a neat security feature. Its QR lever is attached to a cylinder, which is held down into a hole in the frame joint by spring pressure. To open the hinge, you have to undo the QR lever and (still holding it), turn it 90 degrees and lift the cylinder upwards to disengage it from the frame. When you’re unfolding the bike, this cylinder pops back into place automatically. When it is unfolded and ready to ride, the B’Twin is a very short, upright bike. The stem is really tall and the effective seat tube angle is slacker than it looks because the seat tube is behind the bottom bracket.

FOLDERS

BIKE TEST

First look

Minimalist steel folder that works okay for short hops between train stations and the home or office

Tech Spec

B’TWIN OXYLANE 100 Your weight is very much over the back wheel.

to prevent them coming undone by accident. Start by dropping the seat down Frame & folding: Tern (or you can do this later). The Node D8 has a beefy Then fold the frame in half; aluminium frame and a the fork and chainstay have hi-ten steel fork. Like most magnets at the dropouts of Tern’s folders, it ‘N-folds’. to hold the folded frame The frame folds back on together. Drop the handlebar itself so the front wheel down and (optionally) fasten ends up pointing forward, it to the frame with the making the folded package rubber strap on the main slightly shorter. It’s still large frame tube. Fold the pedals. (89×78×43cm) because the Use the adjustable stem to Node D8 is a long wheelbase orient the handlebar flush Top: The frame hinge won't open unless you undo the bike with big wheels. with the frame. It took me QR lever and lift the cylinder A few years ago those about 30 seconds. upwards against spring tension 24-inch wheels would have Like the B’Twin, the folded Bottom: The stem hinge simply clamps closed. Make disqualified the Node as Tern can be rolled around sure you do this one up luggage on UK trains. As on its wheels if you extend properly before setting off! well as being ‘fully folding’, the seatpost. But roll it bikes had to have ‘wheels carefully as those magnets 20in or smaller’. This requirement has can sometimes unfasten. been quietly dropped. Neither wheel When unfolded, the Tern’s seatpost has size nor maximum dimensions are listed height markings to make it easy to position in National Rail's Conditions of Travel, the saddle. There’s enough post for riders which only say that folders must be ‘fully up to around 195cm tall. As with the folding’ (and, like any luggage, not cause B’Twin, there’s nothing to stop a thief from obstruction, delay, or danger). I checked pulling the post right out, so be careful this point with the Rail Delivery Group, where you park. who confirmed it. Components Folding is straightforward as long The B’Twin’s singlespeed drivetrain has as you remember that the front wheel a twiddly 48in gear. That’s okay for short has to point forward. Both hinges have hops of two or three miles but frustrating user-friendly levers with sprung catches

non-folding plastic pedals, 165mm steel chainset with 44t chainring and chainguard, square tape bottom bracket, KMC 1/8in singlespeed chain, 18t freewheel. One ratio, 48in. Braking: Alhonga steel V-brakes with plastic levers. Steering & seating: Rubber grips, 580x25.4mm steel low-riser handlebar, folding non-adjustable aluminium stem, threaded headset. Foam saddle, 565×31.6mm steel seatpost, QR seat clamp. Equipment: front and rear strap-on LED lights, bell. decathlon.co.uk

Price: £199.99 Sizes: one size Weight: 13.4kg (as shown) Folded size: 78×66×41cm (claimed), 76×67×41cm (measured) Frame & fork: Hinged hi-ten steel frame with fittings for rear rack, mudguard, bottom bracket ‘stand’, and rear derailleur. Hiten steel fork with mudguard fittings. Wheels: 44-406 B’Twin tyres, 406×21 single wall aluminium rims, 28×3 spokes, 76mm solidaxle front hub, 130mm solid-axle singlespeed rear hub. Transmission:

Dimensions in millimetres and degrees

550 515 71˚

530 45

130

385

540 74.5˚

270

500

165 280

406

920

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FOLDERS

BIKE TEST

First look

Big wheels and a long wheelbase provide relaxed, roadsterstyle handling. Cumbersome when folded

Tech Spec

TERN NODE D8 if you want to go further. Rack (£19.99) and/or a 10-litre You could buy and fit a 16t Flexible Folding Bike Basket freewheel in place of the 18t (£9.99). supplied, which would raise By contrast, the Tern the gearing to 54in. comes equipped for utility The bike’s budget Alhonga trips with mudguards, a V-brakes (steel callipers, rear rack, and a kickstand. plastic levers) are somewhat Gearing is 1×8 Shimano spongy but good enough. Claris with a twistgrip You’re never travelling shifter that’s less likely particularly quickly on the to get bashed in transit Oxylane 100. It’s a similar than a trigger shifter. It’s story with the own-brand inexpensive stuff that works 44-406 tyres. They might fine. The range is rather be stodgy but your speed is high: you don’t need a 96in Top: 50-507 Schwable Big capped by the singlespeed gear on this bike but might Apple tyres are ideal on badly gear already. want something smaller maintained roads and will tackle unsurfaced tracks The B’Twin’s other than 33in, not least because Bottom: You need to thumb components are mostly steel the Tern will haul a fairthe red button forward to open the frame hinge and mostly fine. The one that sized load. The panniermight not be, depending on capable rear rack is rated your height, is the seatpost. for 25kg, and there are head Decathlon says the Oxylane 100 is suitable tube mounts for a Tern Luggage Truss, for riders from 145-185cm tall. It isn’t. which will hold a bag weighing up to 7kg. I’m 177cm (5ft 9 1/2in) and the minimum The Tern’s 24in wheels are fitted with insertion mark was just visible above the 50mm Schwalbe Big Apple tyres. They’re seat collar when I put the saddle high perfect for this bike, enabling you to ride enough. Taller riders will be out of luck. confidently and comfortably through You probably won’t want to throw potholes and over cobbles that would put money at accessories for a £200 bike, the fear in you on a small-wheeled folder. but do get some compatible Decathlon The Tern’s front brake is mounted mudguards (£15.99/pair). You might also behind the fork. The pads aren’t want: Folding Pedals (£9.99), a Folding Bike perpendicular to the brake arms, so Protection and Transport Cover (£14.99); a I’d expect uneven pad wear and more Onesecondclip Tilt Folding Bike Pannier frequent pad replacement as a result.

170mm aluminium chainset with 44t chainring, square taper BB, 11-32t 8-speed Shimano Hyperglide cassette. Shimano Revoshift shifter, Shimano Claris rear derailleur. 8 ratios, 33-96in. Braking: Promax aluminium V-brake levers and callipers. Steering & seating: ErgoLock grips, 660×25.4mm Tern Sweep handlebar, 70mm Tern Andros adjustable stem, Tern Physis 3D ‘handlepost’, integrated headset. BioLogic Como DLX saddle, 580×33.9mm seatpost. Equipment: Freelance Fenders, Tern Freight rear rack, kickstand. ternbicycles.com

Price: £900 Sizes: one size Weight: 15kg (as shown) Folded size: 86×84×39cm (claimed), 89×78 ×43cm (measured) Frame and fork: Aluminium frame with Tern OCL+ joint and fittings for mudguard, rear rack, kickstand, head-tube luggage, and one bottle. Hi-ten steel fork with fittings for mudguard and dynamo cable. Wheels: 50-507 Schwalbe Big Apple tyres, 507×22 double-wall aluminium rims, 28×2 stainless steel spokes, 100mm QR front hub, 130mm rear cassette hub. Transmission: Folding pedals,

Dimensions in millimetres and degrees

variable 605 71˚

610 42

130

420

615 72˚

340

612

170 285

507

1035

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BIKE TEST

FOLDERS

Above: The B'Twin's cheap brakes work okay Near right: I'd prefer the brake in front of the fork Top right: 11-32 cassette wants a ~36t chainring Bottom right: This is 18t; 16t would be better

Actual brake performance is very good: the V-brakes themselves are better quality and they’re augmented by compressionless cable outers. Tern’s Andros adjustable stem is required to rotate the handlebar for the minimum folded size. It also enables you to set up the backswept handlebar wherever you want within a large arc, ranging from bolt upright to negative rise (i.e. pointing slightly downward). Adjustment is tool free and dead easy.

Ride I’m average male height yet initially felt a bit like a circus bear on the wee B’Twin. The compact, upright riding position is not one that favours high-cadence pedalling: beyond about 12mph it’s easier to freewheel. It feels cramped for climbing too, so it’s perhaps as well the singlespeed gear is small. Handling is curious, thanks to the bike’s short wheelbase, minimal trail, short reach, and slack seat angle. You do get used it, particularly if you’ve ridden other low-trail small-wheelers, and I was never travelling fast enough for the handling to be a problem. For the very short trips the B’Twin is intended for, I actually grew to quite like its relaxed, sit-upand-beg position, spin-and-coast ‘can't rush' pedalling, and nippy steering. The Tern is completely different: it rides like a standard, wide-tyred city bike. Steering is

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AU G U ST/ SE PT EMBER 2021

Other options

BROMPTON M3L £1, 290

The folding bike benchmark. This is a three-speed version with mudguards, battery lights, and luggage block. For regular bike-rail commuting, it's worth the investment.

stable at any speed, thanks to a fairly normal trail figure, a longer wheelbase, and wider, larger diameter tyres that don’t so easily deviate from a straight line. Those big tyres absorb the bumps of bad roads and poorly surfaced cycle tracks well, so it’s a comfortable bike around town. While you could use it for longer rides, I’d stick to journeys with single-digit mileages. Hilly country lanes are hard work on a 15kg bike with a 33in bottom gear, especially as the backswept handlebar feels most natural when set up for upright, roadster-style cruising.

brompton.com

Verdict

TERN LINK B7 £600

With 20in (406) wheels the Link folds smaller than the Node, making it a better mixed-mode commuter. It rides okay but you’ll need to add mudguards.

ternbicycles.com

If you want a functional folder on the tightest of budgets, the B’Twin Oxylane 100 is it. The handling is idiosyncratic and the gear is spinny, but if you can’t afford to spend three times as much as this on an entry-level Tern or six times as much on a Brompton, it’s perhaps your best option for bikerail commuting or short urban rides that end with indoor parking. Interested? How tall are you? The Tern Node D8 is better thought of as a normal bike you can easily fit in a hallway or car boot as opposed to a mixed-mode daily commuter. It will go in a train luggage rack (just), but if you’re doing that regularly a 20in-wheel Tern Link, like the B7 I tested last year, would do it better. The Node D8 is essentially a derailleurgeared Dutch roadster that folds in half. Handy.

BIKE TEST

C O M M U T E R -TO U R E R

Dimensions in millimetres and degrees

680 580 72˚

800 54

450

620 71˚

490

696

175

285

135 622 31

1070

Tech Spec

OXFORD BIKE WORKS MODEL 1E

Biketest

Oxford Bike Works Model 1E A comfortable commu-tourer with tried-and-tested kit and a British-built steel frame. Review by Simon Withers

Other options

he 1E is Oxford suitable for commuting, Bike Works’ least day-long rides and light expensive bike touring, and the 1E proved – and one of the least comfortable on road and expensive complete off-road surfaces such as bikes with a British-built towpaths. Its V-brakes may steel frameset. Both the have a historic air these double-butted frame and days but they’re powerful, Above: V-brakes allow the fork are made by Lee consistent, and pleasingly use of a more comfortable Cooper in Coventry, and squeal-free. (A disc-braked fork than would be the case the super-smooth fillet Model 1E is an option.) with disc brakes brazing makes for a very The drivetrain is smooth handsome machine. and quiet, the Shimano There are fewer options with the Deore gears shift easily, and the bike Model 1E than with Oxford’s other bikes coped admirably with loaded panniers, but you still get the personal fitting with no discernible frame flex or brake session, ten-year frame guarantee, and rub. The taut, handbuilt wheels and one-year comfort guarantee, which supple Panaracer tyres are a great allows you to change the stem, bar or pairing for poor roads and towpaths, saddle if they’re not working for you. and the rims, frame and fork will all You also get a lovely ride that’s accommodate much wider rubber.

GENESIS TOUR DE FER 10 FB £1,199.99

GIANT TOUGHROAD SLR 1

Genesis’s flat-barred tourer comes with a rear rack, Shimano triple chainset, and Promax mechanical disc brakes.

Giant’s aluminium allrounder has two racks, a double chainset, and powerful hydraulic discs.

genesisbikes.co.uk

giant-bicycles.com

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AU G U ST/ SE PT EMBER 2021

£1, 299

Price: £1,299 Sizes: S, M (tested), L, XL Weight: 13.1kg Frame and fork: Double-butted steel frame, 135mm QR dropouts, 3 bottle mounts, mudguard/ rear rack mounts. Steel fork with 100mm QR dropouts & mudguard mounts. Wheels: 32-622 Panaracer Pasela ProTite tyres, 36h Zac 2000 front rim, Exal LX17 rear rim, 36×2mm pg spokes, Shimano RS-300 front hub, Shimano Deore LX FH-670 rear. Transmission: 175mm Shimano FC-T3010 chainset

with 36t chainring, Neco cartridge BB, Shimano 10-speed 1142 cassette. Shimano SL-T6000 shifter & Deore RD-M4120 SGS rear mech. Ten ratios, 23-88in. Braking: Shimano T4000 V-brakes. Steering & seating: Ergon GP1 grips, 610×25.4mm Zoom handlebar, 100mm Zoom stem, Ergotec threadless headset. Men’s Terry Fisio Gel saddle, 27.2mm Ergotec seatpost. Equipment: Flinger F42 Deluxe mudguards, Pletscher kickstand, brass bell. oxfordbikeworks. co.uk

A single-ring setup does limit your gear range but Oxford offers chainrings from 34t to 40t or a triple, which I’d choose for extended touring. I’d also prefer Ergon GP3 bar ends or similar for the extra forward-facing handhold, but along with safety-release fittings for the front mudguard, those are the only changes I’d make. A ‘proper’, sonorous brass bell and a kickstand round out a well-considered package. With a threaded bottom bracket shell and external cabling, Oxford’s 1E is userfriendly for the home mechanic too.

Verdict

The Model 1E’s handbuilt frameset is paired with well-built wheels and sensibly chosen components for a comprehensive commuting and light-touring package. Throw in a comfortable ride, plus Oxford’s personal fitting service and comfort guarantee, and the value looks very decent.

GROUPTEST

FLO O R PU M P S

Details

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Gauge

Analogue or digital, the gauge needs to be easily readable while you’re using the pump. What pressure measurements does it display: PSI, BAR, or kPa? Does the gauge have a way of marking target tyre pressures?

Grouptest

Floor pumps

Pressure/ volume

Like hand pumps, smaller diameter plungers are better for higher pressures and lower volumes (e.g. road bike tyres), while larger diameter

A floor pump takes the effort out of inflating tyres, getting them up to pressure in less time. Vicky Balfour tests four

VICKY BALFOUR Bike mechanic Vicky is a bike mechanic and the founder of Vicky Bikes, a platform that empowers everyone to find pockets of adventure through a love of cycling.

Pump head

Many floor pumps have a dual or adaptable head so that they’ll fit to both Presta and Schrader valves but some will only do one or the other. What valves do your bikes have? (A Presta pump head also works on a Woods valve.)

floor pump is one of the most useful additions to any cyclist’s home workshop. Whether inflating mountain bike tyres with a huge air volume or putting high pressures into narrow road tyres, a floor pump will save you time, effort, and frustration compared to a small hand pump. Pumping isn’t just easier, it’s more accurate because a floor pump’s pressure gauge takes the guesswork out of making tyres firm or supple enough. Most floor pumps are track pumps, with a T-shaped handle for the hands, a vertical barrel, and a hose that connects to the tyre valve. Foot pumps are also an option, however, and we’ve included one in this test.

plungers are better for lower pressures and higher volumes (e.g. mountain bike tyres). Check the pump’s pressure range matches your requirements.

Stability

The stability of a pump affects its ease of use, especially if you are using it to inflate to a high pressure or using a large volume one to seat a tubeless tyre. Look out for big or weighted foot plates – or a stable base on foot pumps.

2 5

Hose

Too short and it can be hard to inflate tyres if the bike is on a bike stand, too long and the hose can get in the way when being stored. Check out the length and how the pump is designed to store the hose when not in use.

C YCL I NGUK . O RG

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REVIEWS

FLO O R PU M P S

Verdict The pump I ended up using most was the SKS Airstep. Although it’s the least efficient at putting air into the tyre, it is so easy to use and store that it feels completely hassle free. For Presta-valved tyres up to 100psi, the Lezyne is a great pump. It’s by far the most comfortable to use, and the facility to seat tubeless tyres is handy. The Topeak pump is well suited to mountain bikers and fat bikers. It gets wide tyres up to pressure in minimal time, albeit with more effort. The Cube pump was frustrating. The insecure attachment, especially to Schrader valves, left me feeling that I was missing something.

Pumps to go

Looking for a pump to take on your ride? Read: cyclinguk.org/article/ choose-best-portablecycle-pumps-grouptest

More online

cyclinguk.org/advice

SKS 1Pump Airstep Foot

Lezyne 2 Sport Gravel Drive

Topeak 3 Joe Blow Mountain X

UNLESS YOU’RE WEARING cycling shoes with cleats, this foot pump is really easy to use. My mum and daughter had no problems with it. The pump head is designed for both Presta and Schrader valves and locks on securely in one go. When not in use, the Airstep is compact and easy to store – the hose coils up neatly and the moving foot plate fixes in place. The only downside is the relatively slow input of air. Max: 102psi. Strokes to reach 20psi (27.5×2.4in tyre): 43.

MOST TRACK PUMPS are made to put high pressures into narrow road tyres; this one is meant for gravel bikes and other mid-volume tyres. It only fits Presta valves, but locks on easily and the head can be adapted for seating tubeless tyres (with the valve core removed). The thin foot plate is stable and the wooden handle comfortable, making it easy to use. The long hose was sometimes a nuisance as it didn’t clip securely in place. Max: 100psi. Strokes to reach 20psi (27.5×2.4in tyre): 21.

DESIGNED FOR MOUNTAIN bike tyres, the Joe Blow shifts a lot of air per stroke but tops out at 60psi so won’t double as a road bike pump. It does Presta and Schrader valves – you engage the relevant connector and lock it on with a central lever. It works fine but isn’t as comfortable to use as the Lezyne, and the hose is fairly short. The large volume pump cylinder means that it fills the tyre more quickly but each stroke is harder work. Max: 60psi. Strokes to reach 20psi (27.5×2.4in tyre): 11.

FIRST THE GOOD news: the gauge is brilliant. Mounted high up and with a clear digital display, it’s easy to read and to toggle between PSI and BAR. There’s an air release valve on the gauge too. The base is stable and the handle comfortable. The problem is the EZ-Head. It’s meant to push on but didn’t do so securely, especially on Schrader valves, where it leaked air badly. I resorted to YouTube to see if anyone had made a video of how to use it… Max: 160psi. Strokes to reach 20psi (27.5×2.4in tyre): 21.

Compact and user-friendly foot pump with modest max pressure

Presta only but great for gravel, touring, and commuter tyres

Ideal for (but limited to) lower pressure, higher volume tyres

Let down by the pump head, which is anything but ‘EZ’

£66.99 sks-germany.com

For more reviews of bikes, kit and components, as well as how-to guides, visit...

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£70 upgradebikes.co.uk

4 Cube Acid Race Digital £49.99 cube.eu/uk

£57.99 extrauk.co.uk

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Rough stuff Rough Stuff

TRAVELLERS’ TALES

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Share your story We’d love to hear your Travellers’ Tales! Email: editor@cyclinguk.org

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Real miles, imaginary tour Afan Valley Route, NCN 887

Virtual world tour

Wales

Beyond the vale Last April, David Cope and his friend Colin took a train-assisted ride through the Welsh valleys

or much of the last year, Colin and I have trundled around familiar routes through the Vale of Glamorgan, starting and finishing at our homes in Llantwit Major. It’s got us out and about but had become a little monotonous. So last Good Friday, with the weather sunny and breezy, we decided to venture further afield and try some of the National Cycle Network routes that South Wales has to offer. We loaded our bikes onto the early train to Bridgend. Our route was the Ogmore Valley Trail, NCN Route 883, a former railway that transported the coal mined in Nantymoel down the valley to Porthcawl on the coast. The gently rising track passes through Ogmore Vale and Wyndham, once thriving mining communities, before finishing in Nantymoel at the top of the valley. The climb from there up to Bwlchy-Clawdd (450m) was achieved with much more of an effort from Colin on his hybrid than from me on my e-bike. At the summit we were greeted by a gusting icy wind, spectacular views down to Treorchy, and the welcome sight of a refreshment van in the lay-by! Refuelled with tea and Welsh cake, we continued along the A4107 towards Port Talbot and down into the Afan Valley. This descent must be one of

Lockdown

the best rides in Wales: fast and smooth, with Alpine-like turns. We joined NCN 887, the Afan Valley Route, at Cymmer. We glided along the well-maintained cycle track, freewheeling down through woodlands and the former mining communities of Pontryhdyfen (birthplace of Richard Burton) and Cwmafan. In bustling Port Talbot we searched for NCN 4, which would take us back to Bridgend via Margam. After an unintended detour to Aberavon beach, we found our bearings and headed east past the imposing structures of the steelworks. We completed our journey back to Llantwit Major on a route we had come to know and love during lockdown: NCN 88. For more Welsh valleys ride ideas, visit cyclinguk.org/talesofthetrails.

Cold spring sunshine at the top of Bwlch-y-Clawdd

Frank Burns exercised locally last winter – but not in his head THE ADVERTISING WORLD is awash with advice on how you can do everything ‘from the comfort of your own home’. We cyclists are slowly being persuaded that we can live a full and rewarding cycling experience without ever stepping over the threshold. Is that true? Do I hear you shouting at the page? In my own struggle to stave off the ‘virtual enemy’, I have tricked myself into believing that, without ever straying more than 50km from my own front door, I can actually tour the world by cycling my local lanes. Starting in ‘Paris’, I have virtually passed through Istanbul, Tehran, Karachi and, after 8,000km, I’m currently in Mumbai. All of this without ever needing visas, having my bags checked, dicing with dodgy street food, nor sleeping in river drains – the very ingredients that make adventure cycling ‘adventurous’, and thus create the stories that become the clickbait of social media. The world is not interested in seeing me holding a glass of wine while I gaze at a crimson sunset. No, they would much rather hear of me sitting miserably in my tent during a thunderstorm and cutting my finger on the sharp edge of a sardine can. For some dark reason, we all have a tendency of taking consolation in the misery of others, better known as the syndrome of ‘There but for the grace of God…’ The solace that I now feel on a wet December day in England is that I can arrive virtually in Mumbai during the dry season, where the temperature is 30ºC, the sun is shining in a cloudless sky, and I am assured of at least 11 hours of daylight.

C YCL I NGUK . O RG

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TRAVELLERS’ TALES

Ten-year-old Luke and mum Kerrin rode 144 miles

Southern England

Cycling to the sea Framlingham Castle in Suffolk is set in extensive parkland

East Anglia

Staycation success With last summer’s plans in disarray, Lesley and Alan Baillie toured East Anglia instead

very year we enjoy a cycle touring holiday in Europe or the UK. In 2020, we’d planned three weeks in Scotland and Northern Ireland in June. With lockdown still in place in May and accommodation closed, we realised this couldn’t happen and cancelled the trip. We discussed cycling the French Atlantic coast in September but, by August, France didn’t seem feasible either. We then decided to plan a trip most likely to actually happen: a tour in England that we could start from home. We chose East Anglia and ordered Sustrans maps so we could follow National Cycle Network (NCN) routes. Our tour took us through Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Suffolk, and then up around the Suffolk and Norfolk Sun, sea, and sand remained on the agenda

Stay connected 74

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coastline. We cycled back through the Fens, with a memorable night in the beautiful cathedral city of Ely. It was a fantastic trip, helped by an Indian summer, and brought us great memories to sustain us through the winter. We set off in early September from our home in Aylesbury. Highlights en route included the beautiful Anglesey Abbey gardens near Cambridge, Wicken Fen Nature Reserve, Bury St Edmunds Abbey, and Framlingham Castle. There were unexpected treats too: medieval stone bridges in Cambridgeshire; cycling through Minsmere to the historic port of Dunwich; coffee by Horsey windmill in the Norfolk Broads; lunch at Norfolk Lavender; and walks across the beautiful beaches on this lovely coastline. The NCN routes took mainly quiet lanes through pretty countryside and villages, interspersed with stretches of traffic-free routes alongside waterways and through country parks. Most impressive was the 14-mile St Ives to Cambridge Busway route, where we cycled on an excellent tarmac path alongside open countryside. We’re now excitedly planning our 2021 UK cycling tours, using NCN routes once again.

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AU G U ST/ SE PTEMBER 2021

Twitter @wearecyclinguk

Luke Cocks and his mum, Kerrin, rode from Stroud to Southampton I LOVE CYCLING and wanted to do something challenging so my mum said to plan a three-day cycling trip. I wanted to cycle to the coast and chose Southampton. We had never cycled that sort of distance before, but I ride my bike to school every day and we did a few hilly rides beforehand. I planned the entire 144-mile trip, sticking to the National Cycle Network. I then found places for us to stay in Swindon, Amesbury, and Southampton. The January lockdown messed up all my plans, so we had to wait until April for restrictions to ease. We bought waterproof covers for our backpacks, a handlebar bag, and cycling shorts. We were really lucky with the weather: although it was cold in the mornings it didn’t rain. Before we left, I worried that the lockdown would come back, my mum worried that one of the bikes would break, and my little sister worried that we’d crash. As it turned out, we only crashed once – into each other – in Cirencester! It was an amazing three days spent outdoors, seeing the spring countryside with lots of fields of baby lambs and rape in full bloom. We also watched a military convoy cross Salisbury Plain. We ate lunch in fields and fuelled on fruit pastels and chocolate. Next time we need a handlebar holder for the phone so that we don’t get lost. Also, backpacks aren’t very comfortable. I’m now planning a cycling trip across Wales for us.

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