Seven Day Cyclist - Sample Issue

Issue 1 £2.99

THE JUNKIES’ JOY RIDE

Andrew Brandon sets out on a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. Part one

THE ROAD TO CONTENTMENT

John Campbell cycles over the Highland Line

There’s More to Cycling than Riding a Bike

A Rose Between

Two Roses

C2Cers cross it though few stop to admire – Stephen Dyster discovered what many cyclists miss when they rush…

Products • Pigs In Heather • Foffa Urban Test & Much More!

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A Rose Between Two Roses C2Cers cross it though few stop to admire – Stephen Dyster discovered what many cyclists miss when they rush…

Cyclistscome up the lane into Great Strickland

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he Lake District stands to the west; bold peaks mirrored in deep lakes, cliffs pouring rivers of scree into the ever changing waters; eastward mass the ranks of the Pennines, Cross Fell standing above the others, but all barring the way like a great castle wall. The Lake District is well-known and many know the wilderness of the northern Pennines; two of the great barriers on the various routes that lead from sea to sea across 2

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the north of England.

C2Cing has become genuinely iconic with a variety of routes available and sponsored riders or those enjoying a challenge or seeking for pure pleasure make their way between the coastal termini. Two such cyclists pulled into the, increasingly famous cycling café at Greystoke, brothers from different ends of England who were spending three days on the way to Sunderland, as I ordered cake and tea. As we ate our cakes and drank our tea, a dozen MTBs zipped past,

SLOW MOTION PREVIEW Penrith town centre

Strickland Arms, cycling pub … more next time

Great Salkeld Church

knobbly tyres buzzing on the tarmac. And this was a quiet lunchtime at the end of “the season”.

Exiting the Lakes, the Pennines become the next target, usually via the Hartside road. Yet lying in between is a Vale – and not a flat one – that would merit at least a long weekend of exploration.

EDEN The Eden Valley stretches south from Carlisle, dividing Pennines from Lake District, until it fizzles out amongst

the hills beyond Kirby Stephen. The A6 and the M6, are barely noticeable. The Settle to Carlisle line has several stations in the valley and positively enhances the cycling experience, though read the timetable carefully.

Cycling is benefitting from the Nurture Eden project, promoting sustainable tourism, especially cycling and walking, in the area. Greg Stephenson, from Nurture Eden told me, as we had an evening spin on the lanes around Great Strickland, “There are a few things a business can do to make cyclists feel welcome; a sevendaycyclist.co.uk

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secure place to store the bicycle, somewhere to dry gear, a cup of tea and some cake when they arrive, local information. The basics are easy.” The project aims to attract cyclists, but puts as much time into persuading those involved in tourism that hungry, tired, though hopefully not wet cyclists, are good for business.

TEMPTED BY …. PIES I dined and slept at The Strickland Arms in Great Strickland, on the evening after meeting Greg. This is one business that is really taking Greg’s message to heart. Some cyclists feel the need for a roaring fire and a warm welcome, a pint of ale, a hearty feed and a relaxing place to chat. Suffice it to say that The Strickland Arms was comfortable, cycle storage secure and dry, the owners amiable and knowledgeable and the pies …. well, the good news is that you won’t be turfed out of this Eden for giving into temptation.

Slow-burn fuel from one of Penny’s pies, Anton, the landlord, provided a hearty Saturday morning breakfast just to top me up. Away went my bike into a chilly sun-filled dawn; red squirrels on NCR71, and views of Cross Fell, narrow lanes and the feeling one gets that this could be the last day of an Indian summer and you should take full adavantage. I made out the road Greg had recommended I ride up at some time. At the start of the day it looked inviting; away across the valley, curving up the broad flanks of Great Dun Fell, to reach the radar station on the summit.

PENRITH NCR71 crosses the River Eamont near Brougham Castle, English Heritage owned and not to be confused with Brougham Hall – also a castle, but a more domestic affair owned by a community group and equally worth Kirkoswald

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a visit. A left turn will take you there.

Penrith is a busy little town, so it is worth following the cycle route to avoid the main junctions en route to the town centre - the almost inevitable muddy underpass along the way is located under the A66. Penrith is a grand town with a helpful bike shop and narrow side streets to explore. In its streets you’ll find a confusing choice of cafes and shops that will satisfyall the needs of a touring cyclist – and a good deal else.

Penrith is not in the Eden valley so it is over the hill and away we go on NCR71, there are magnificent views back over the town, so pull over for a moment or two.

On the way down to the valley a wise rider will take care on a rattling descent as the surface is poor in places.

What else could one ask for?

Here was the Eden Valley. Amongst the settlements is Lazonby, reached by the gentle B6412, a road bereft of traffic that morning. This was my first objective. Cross Fell held my eye, simply because it was so many years since I had stood atop it. I reminded myself that this was a road and that there might be other traffic.

Lazonby is small but fully functional for most wants.

A resident assured me that there was little I could not get there. If my needs could not be satisfied in this mini-metropolis, he said, “There is always the train to

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View from the South Loop

Carlisle.” His tone suggested that he would consider this rather extravagant or even degenerate. “We even have an outdoor swimming pool,” he said, convincing me that Lazonby was the hub of the Universe. There is an unlikely rash of outdoor swimming pools in Cumbria.

Some cyclists might even do a tour based on them.

I WENT NORTH AND I WENT SOUTH This whole area was new to me. It revealed its charms willingly, but I had officially come to ride two routes.

Both are based on Armathwaite. The South Loop reaches Lazonby along the east side of the river before heading back up the west side to return to Armathwaite; the North Loop explores the west side of the valley to the north of Armathwaite.

As ever, I didn’t follow the official route, doing the second half of the first loop first and so on. To begin with, the second half of the South Loop, from Lazonby to Armathwaite which undulates to challenge irregular cyclists but should not bother those who are moderately fit. The river is hidden at the base of steep, wooded slopes, but the going is good amidst lovely countryside with undeservedly distant views.

Arriving near Armathwaite, I took in the first section of the North Loop. This is delightful. The road through

The Eden near Armathwaite

Aiketgate opens-up fine views all round. Turning for Blackmoss Pool brings a different aspect as the road to Cotehill runs through boggy woodland Returning to Armathwaite, on the North Loop, largely downhill, you’ll realise how far you have climbed as you speed through woods and pasture. Take care at the level-crossing before reaching Drybeck – the likelihood is that the gate will be open as trains are few and far between. However, moderate speed, a straight front wheel and preparedness for the bumps is necessary.

Ponder just how easily you climbed to deserve the glass that never runs dry – a descent that never ends.

It does, of course, in Armathwaite. Those who have pushed hard to reach Armathwaite’s fleshpots will find shop, pubs and places to rest and refresh. Railway enthusiast may have screeched to a halt to admire the Drybeck Viaduct. The will arrive shortly after those who do not have the age of steam in their blood. Don’t worry, Aramthwaite may be small but there will be plenty to go round.

A SUSTAINED INCLINE The shops and pubs are not Armathwaite’s only attractions. It has a beautiful bridge over the Eden; one of those places where sitting and watching sevendaycyclist.co.uk

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The Eden at Appleby

the world dawdle past is likely to interfere with your training programme. I should love to spend an evening in such a place, at the end of a long day’s ride of course. Whatever time of day, this is the spot to gird up your loins.

The pamphlet describes the “Coombs Hiil climb” immediately apparent after turning for Kirkoswald, as

Evel and friends

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a “sustained incline”. Incline it is and sustained it is. It jolly-well sustained itself a lot better than I sustained my attempt to get up it at speed. This was not one for middle-ring or, possibly, middle-age. Beyond it the route beyond undulates vigorously, but the scenery invites a stop and good look over the deep gorge of the invisible river.

Kirkoswald offers several refreshment stops if you put your brakes on quickly enough. The proximity of the two pubs suggests good business. There is also a shop.

Take your choice. On this sunny day the outdoor seats were taken and, in any case I was rolling happily for a few miles. Or so I thought.

At Kirkoswald, I left the loop to Lazonby, and headed up the hill for Glassonby and down the dale to Little Salkeld, where there is an excellent café at the mill. This was excellent cycling on quiet roads, though a full range of gears was used.

The little green at Glassonby would have been a rest stop on a warmer day. It wasn’t especially easy to withstand the temptation of the shade beneath the

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Morland’s hidden cascade remains hidden

broad boughs as it was, but so pleasant was the cycling that the wheels were kept on turning.

ELVIS HAS LEFT THE VILLAGE GREEN In a the few miles to Langwathby, I was passed by numerous C2Cers pedalling their way up into the Pennines. They waved and smiled as best they could whilst turning stoically up hill, while I shot down to Langwathby. This was another surprisingly long descent. I habitually find that the amount of ascent seems to be totally out of kilter with the descent. This was one of the idle thoughts I pondered as I sat outside the Shepherd’s Inn, watching cyclists passing by more or less rapidly.

Looking to the hills sevendaycyclist.co.uk

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SLOW MOTION PREVIEW Then Elvis Presley and Evel Knevel turned up on 50cc scooters totally unfit for leaping anything and so weighed down that even I on my steel touring bike may have given them a run for their money over a short distance. They, though in all likelihood it was probably fancy dress, were accompanied by a teddy bear and a selection of super-heroes. These C2Cers were on mopeds and such like. Evel and his mates came from Teeside, members of a motorcycle club. This was their annual charity ride - a double crossing from sea to sea.

WESTMORELAND, APPLEBY IN Skirwith, Blencarn, Milburn, Long Marton, are out of the way villages along the way to Appleby in Westmoreland. The way offered delightfully effort-free cycling. A left turn here would have led to Greg’s jolly jaunt up the one-in-fours to Great Dun Fell. As it was, the sunshine was turning hazy and the view would have been limited – honestly. Instead, I soon had tea and cake in front of me in a café in the former county town of Appleby.

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General strolling about made a sortie to Kirby Stephen out of the question. I had initially planned this.

I’ll blame my failure to fulfil my plan on chatting over breakfast with Anton, though it would have, in truth been a long day and there were hills aplenty on the way back to base.

For me it was over the hills to Great Strickland. The Eden has several tributaries hereabouts that have created deep valleys of their own across the grain of which lay my way; energetic but glorious cycling. A stop at the White Horse in King’s Meaburn and at the hidden waterfall under the bridge at Morland; there were too many stops to admire either nature or the works of man. It is just that kind of region. It certainly gave the impression that it was well off the beaten cycle track; there was not one other cyclist for the entire section. There should be cries of “Shame, shame!”

This was one the most interesting areas in a fascinating and beautiful area. Route finding is simple with good signage, but take your time to pick your way.

SLOW MOTION PREVIEW Occasional cheeky ascents are frequent in corrugated landscapes such as this. Shortest distance is not, hereabouts, equal to quickest, easiest or most scenic.

However, as in the old song, wherever you wander there’s no route too long – so long as the sun shines.

– and you will not find the scenery or the villages disappointing. You might even find yourself breathing more heavily and seeking more excuses to stop and look. Some of the villages have pubs, but do not bank on them being open at lunchtimes.

At the Strickland Arms, as the sun began to drop, there was Anton to lock my bike away, Penny ready with the pastry, several very large teddy bears (Bradley Bear Wiggins, Cavendish Bear and Bear Froome), one of Sir Bradley’s yellow jerseys, a bunch of friendly locals and preparations for the morrow. But, as I sup my pint, and think of the marvellous day out I had had in “the bit in between”, I’ll leave you to decide when you’d like a taste of Eden.

Ask Anton about the bears and Sir Bradley. It is all part of the Strickland Arms cycling phenomenon. SDC

Welcome relief at King’s Meaburn

Information

www.thestricklandarms.co.uk Staying, eating, drinking and chatting here were all a pleasure. My bike enjoyed it, too. www.nurtureeden.co.uk Visit this website for just information on almost any topic to do with tourism in the Eden Valley. There are a variety of downloadable materials to support your visit. Hard copy can also be obtained through the contact details. There are themed leaflets which would make the basis for some interesting cycling or walking tours.

Rather frustratingly, my Eden Valley ride took in OS 1:50000 sheets 85, 86, 91 and 92. Get organised and have one specially printed! https:// www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/custommade-maps.html or print your own https://www. ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/os-getamap.html

sevendaycyclist.co.uk

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PRETTY PIGS IN HEATHER

PrettyPigs in Heather We can choose to ride with a club where we can select our companions; we can’t choose our relatives, but riding with the family is the perfect way to spend quality time. Stephen Dyster and family rode out from Tamworth.

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rior to arrival of offspring it was not uncommon for me to set off on an audax ride, a hundred or two hundred kilometre event was the norm. If you have not come across Audax UK, then you really should take a look and find out more.

The basics of Audax are that you enter an event 16

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advertised in their calendar. There is a small fee and insurance is required. Members of Audax UK are covered, as are CTC members, otherwise it is an additional small cost. You receive a route card (or download it for your GPS). Turn up at the start, sign in, receive your brevet card and, at the appropriate time, off you go.

PRETTY PIGS IN HEATHER

Inspiration for future ventures, Shackerstone Station

would give Aristotle a pleasant evening of mental activity, the rides are amiable, with a strong social element, café stops and no timing chips.

That does not mean that they cannot be truly tough.

“Audax” derives from the French for “audacious”. There is a good deal of French in Audax-speak, the origins of the club being Parisian. As ever, a challenge is a personal thing, so when fifty kilometre events were spotted on the calendar it seemed an ideal family challenge.

USE YOUR JUDGEMENT

Food is important

Riders are expected to be totally independent – there is no sag wagon. If you drop out, then you should inform the organiser, but don’t expect anyone to come and fetch you. Equally, it is a requirement that you are a person of goodwill, so offer to help any rider who is stuck. Bear this in mind if taking the family.

Goodwill also means that you should show the moral fortitude to stick to the rules and their spirit when out in the pouring rain with a short-cut beckoning. It is not a race and checkpoints are only “open” between specific times set according to a minimum and maximum average speed. The ride is a challenge akin to the reliability trial.

The mention of rules should not put anyone off.

Though reading through the rules or understanding the acquisition of points for the member awards, let alone the qualifying procedures for the biggest audax rides (London-Edinburgh-London and Paris-Brest-Paris)

Note, please; riders need to be competent cyclists and such events are not for the first family ride. As ever, judgement is required. When my son could ride around thirty-five miles, ride responsibly with me on road and not be utterly minced at the end of the day, the time seemed right. It is completely reasonable to ride on a tandem. In fact, when we take on his first one hundred kilometre audax, it will be by tandem.

Planning your own routes is fun, but an audax gives you a detailed route prepared by someone who knows the area like the back of their hand. For our first family audax we decided to drive the thirty or so miles to the Pretty Pigs pub, Shuttington, just outside Tamworth, for the Just a Chuffing Fifty, organised by Geoff Cleaver. It is worth pointing out that all events are organised by volunteers.

Setting off from the pub car park, Ed (aged 8) the youngest rider wanted to rush off. Taking advice, he made a steadier pace after a short burst of speed.

Accompanied by a slightly older friend, Chloe (aged 11), and her father, we try to allow the children to set the pace. They generally do it very well, once they get the idea. On the way back we dropped this principle because of the wind. It was also ignored on the few short sections of busy road.

WHEN THE GOING GETS LESS TOUGH …

This patch of the Midlands rolls gently. This is news to the children who can see any hill as an alpine pass.

This is a good opportunity to teach them how to use momentum safely. Riding the same route for the second time, Ed was stunned at how much easier the “big” hill was this time compared to last year. For the older riders there’ll soon come a time when the reverse will be true.

Talking is important. Ed says, “The best thing is doing it with other children and people because when it gets a bit boring there is someone else to help you.” As sevendaycyclist.co.uk

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Middle English cycling

Main road!

a parent, I have to remember not to keep nagging him about every little hazard that approaches, to trust his ability and expand his riding experience. Chatting about what can be seen, where we’ll go for our next ride and so on is better than constant reminders about how far the mid-way point is or how rapid his cadence should be.

The route flattened out for the six miles to the café stop. Passing through Sutton Cheney and Congerstone, crossing and re-crossing the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal along narrow country lanes. Fortunately, the children are both good at controlling their speed, so occasional manoeuvring past on-coming vehicles and through patches of debris caused no problems.

Kirkoswald Pretty Pigs, Arrivee

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STOKING UP Audax rides always have good café stops, usually one of the control points. At Shackerstone Station Tearooms a sticker for the brevet card awaited cyclists as they queued for tea and cake. “There are always good cafes,” says Emma, my wife, when asked to explain the attraction of audax. She adds that, “Getting to ride good routes in areas where you might not think of going and socialising with other riders,” as other factors.

This year we were joined by a newcomer to audax rides. Gerald had travelled from Somerset to take part. He was using the ride as part of a programme to increase the distance he cycles, with a view to taking on some lengthy tours. There are some who like to ride alone, but it is not uncommon for bonds of friendship to be established whilst pedalling along the lanes on an audax ride.

Steam was up at the northern terminus of the Battlefield Line – the battle being Bosworth – so tea and cake were consumed, along with sandwiches and crisps with the air filled with the scent of steam, smoke and oil that so many touring cyclists seem to like.

Food is crucial, especially to children out cycling. A snack stop is generally taken every ten kilometres or so, unless we are running along nicely and don’t want to disturb the rhythm whilst the going is good. Non-cyclists are often amazed at how much hungry adult cyclists can be, but even a hungry adult would be stunned by the amount the children put away at lunchtime.

PRETTY PIGS IN HEATHER

NEVER! One glance at the map shows clearly that a short cut through Newton Burgoland would cut a couple of miles off the total distance. Get Thee behind me, Satan! What a thought. Even if we were the sorts to let such a thing caste more than a fleeting shadow across our souls, the cunning Mr. Cleaver had put an information control in the little village of Heather.

We had already noted the required information at one control and the answers are always obvious.

Heather posed no problems. Though Heather was only a short distance after the lunch stop at Shackerstone, a sweetie stop would have been usual. However, the chilly wind was in our faces so the party continued, with an adult taking the lead, until turning out of the wind at Swepstone.

This area is part of the growing National Forest. At present, the trees are still quite small and offer little shelter.

Beyond Appleby Parva a return is made to the rolling hills. Ed was delighted at how well he ascended, only once getting out of his saddle to honk round the inside of a bend. A few spins of the pedals and the road plunges down to Austrey, the kind of plunge that brings a squeal of delight from a child but puts the parental breath go on hold. Soon it is a gentle trundle into the wind to Shuttington, where one last plunge drops down to the Arivee at the Pretty Pigs.

BEWARE THE LAST MILE

all, records completion and we buy cloth badges for the children. Geoff has also managed to negotiate an additional pound-per-person off the standard price at the carvery. To support this we all have a full roast dinner – the children, needless to say, go for adult portions. As Ed reminds me, “Don’t you know that little children need feeding every forty-five minutes when they are cycling?”

We’ll stick to fifties on the solos for a while. The tandem will take him on his first hundred later this year.

Audax is definitely for our family. SDC For more information about Audax UK visit www.aukweb.net

The road ahead, Shenton

As one nears towns, of course, traffic gets heavier, not that there is much. Yet most accidents happen at the end of rides, especially for children. Combined elation, tiredness and a desire to emulate Mark Cavendish, are understandable, but close supervision is important in the last mile or so.

As we negotiate a narrow bridge with traffic light control. I ride well out to the right to protect the children. Out of the four drivers who went past as the road widened one was annoyed at the thirty seconds of his day that had been wasted. This was unusual. When children are riding, we find that motorists are usually most considerate.

Finishing the route, it is time for the remarkably cheap Pretty Pigs carvery for a late lunch and for Dad to load the bikes onto the car; siignng in, too. Some refreshment is usually available at the end of an audax ride – but finishing at a pub or café is always a particular pleasure. The pre-ride information usually offers an outline of what can be expected.

THANKS GEOFF Geoff Cleaver sits at a table by the door, welcomes us

Would have made a good information control, but just off the route. sevendaycyclist.co.uk

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T ES T I N G T I M ES

Axiom Journey DLX Suspension & Disc Low Rider Rack 583g £25

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xiom Journey DLX Suspension & Disc Low Rider Rack mightn’t be the first of its kind but is by far the best I’ve used to date and all the more remarkable given its priced on par with the tsunami of unbranded fare churning out in their millions from Taiwan. Once again, the Canadian marque favours hollow section 10.2mm T6 6061 rod. TIG welds are neat and uniform throughout and the satin black, powder coated finish similarly well executed.

Many of the bolt-on breed feel distinctly ‘heathRobinson’ characterised by a bewildering array of sprung washers, nuts and bolts that are invariably scattered (often irretrievably) beneath washing machines, tumble driers etc. In stark contrast, the journey is refreshingly minimalist and comprises of paint friendly plastic coated horseshoe clamps (entertaining fork leg diameters legs up to 42mm), plastic coated shims, spacers, a pair of10mm capped nuts and an extra-long quick release skewer.

Universal fitting is a term begging for contradiction but I had ours in situ within ten minutes. Start by removing your front wheel’s existing quick release. Lightly grease the aftermarket unit before introducing through the left and then right sides, snugging tight, allowing some fore/aft adjustment while tethering the upper plates. By now you will have noticed two little pips located along the top rail - these prevent unwanted pannier surfing all too common when navigating poorly/ unsurfaced roads. Loftier positioning continues this theme, theoretically improving ground/cornering clearance without having detrimental effect upon handling.

Maiden voyages with ten, evenly dispersed kilos served to illustrate the superiority of high end headsets with needle roller bearings, so I’d be inclined to upgrade middle aged budget/OEM fare before embarking on serious haulage. Navigating 20

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potholed streets and backwaters demanded greater focus, though quickly became second nature. Kamikaze descending couldn’t cajole any shimmy/similarly frightening characteristics, despite payloads increasing in five kilo increments and we’ve managed surprising angles of lean while tackling twisty singletrack - helped in no small part by my tubby tourers voluptuous drops.

Twenty kilos plus induces some minor flex but nowhere near rider-sapping blancmange territory, even after fifty miles or so. Front wheel removal-when tending punctures/spoke breakage etc. is a little more involved, especially on night rides since the skewer has to be fully extracted and care’s needed to avoid losing its spring. However, the closure action is relatively smooth, so only likely to prove problematic for those particularly prone to roadside mechanicals.

Michael Stenning Verdict: Cleverly designed, wallet-friendly lowrider mount for tricky configurations www.paligap.cc

T ES T I N G T I M ES

Kenda Kwicker Bitumen 700x32c £20.99 ea

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on’t be put off by the ‘comfort orientated city tyre’ tag, 548g, 60tpi and 85psi vital statistics; Kenda Kwicker Bitumen are a rugged, yet surprisingly sprightly tour cum street rubber, well suited to winter/club bikes. Some will cite dynamo tracks as a missed opportunity, though in practice slippage proved a moot point with better quality bottle systems and those stout reflective sidewalls really increase presence when entering the flow of traffic on dark nights.

Full length mudguards restrict my cyclo cross inspired fixed gear trainer to 32mm but there’s 35, 38, 40 and 45mm in 700c and 26x1.5 or 1.75 sections should clearances allow. Compliant wire beads with directional arrows won’t set pulses racing and can make packing spares trickier on tour but were effortlessly swapped between most road/cross rims between 13.5 and 15mm diameters without recourse to tyre levers or agricultural outbursts.

Puncture resistant systems are another pretty standard feature these days, though some are decidedly better than others.

Try as I might, Kenda have been pretty tight lipped about the exact composition of their ‘Iron Cap’ belt but confirmed it’s a protective lining that in this

instance, encompasses both tread and sidewalls. Suffice to say the dreaded hiss has been conspicuous by its absence despite frequent encounter with prickly hedge clippings, shards of broken glass, tacks and similarly malevolent sharps.

Centre ridges have dire connotations thanks to those cheap and nasty ‘dual use’ mountain bike designs popular during the late 1980s but this is very subtle, flanked by pronounced water channelling grooves.

Even at their maximum recommended pressure, initial impressions suggested a ponderous persona, especially ascending long stretches of dimpled tarmac but this improved markedly given twenty five miles or so.

Alternating between fixer and similarly configured Audax build ruled out acclimatisation, leading me to conclude the Bitumen benefit from a short running in period.

Being something of a night owl, our first two hundred miles were spent whizzing along rural backwaters characterised by a witches’ brew of wet leaves, flooding and stretches of iced equine dung. Carving into corners at 20mph, marginally increased rolling resistance was tempered by leach like prowess, those grooves dispersing water with commendable aplomb.

Phenomenal lumens aside, dead of night demon descending requires a healthy respect for terra firma but wet, greasy asphalt and exaggerated steering hasn’t revealed any spitefulness.

Passage through concrete jungle is similarly joyful, affording a magic carpet ride across inclement surfaces, while offering sufficient zip for sweeping around errant pedestrians, opening car doors and similar hazards.

Experience suggests deeper tread patterns are more susceptible to puncturing since sharps can lodge in between, burrowing inside and inducing a flat. However, this flushing action clearly works, since aside from very superficial nicks, their compounds remain unscathed. Traction remained genuinely impressive with commendable feedback as temperatures plummeted but thicker ice and raised ironworks brought about pregnant pauses.

Michael Stenning Verdict: Surprisingly versatile tyre for commuting, training and weekend touring www.todayscyclist.co.uk sevendaycyclist.co.uk

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