WE SAY… Carbon frame, carbon forks, disc brakes, good finishing kit… what more could you expect for the price? For the last few years, the standard £1000 road bike has had an aluminium frame, carbon fork and a Shimano 105 groupset with caliper rim br

69 miles › Easy but rewarding climbs and varied scenery. Past Culloden Moor (cafe) and Clava Cairns on lanes, then deserted old A9 past distillery to Tomatin (cafe/shop). Glorious moortop road from Garbole to Farr Loch (wild swimming). Foyers (falls,

As with any busy utility cyclist my everyday panniers cop a lot of punishment. The other day a magnum of Domestos leaked, but the panniers – Ortlieb – shrugged off the bleach offensive unharmed. My jeans fared less well. They now sport white Jackson

THICKNESS 2.5mm PLUG TYPE Expanding wedge DSP stands for DuraSoft Polymer, the proprietary foam backing on this tape. Available in 1.8mm, 2.5mm (as tested) or plush 3.5mm thicknesses and 15 colours, there’s something to suit every taste. The rubberis

£156.99 ›Sleek-looking high performers WE SAY… A good fit-and-for get pedal that’s a happy balance between Dura-Ace and 105 DETAILS Carbon composite body; stainless steel body plate; sealed cartridge bearings; 6 degrees of float (yellow); 2 degrees (

71 miles Big day of variety and wow factor. Cosy Forge Valley, then Dalby Forest’s tarmac trail. Pretty Thornton and Pickering (cafes) then remote hilly roads to Esk Valley and downhill to Whitby. More hilly back roads (with one short linking track)

WE SAY… While you may not get as much for your dollar as others here, this is the bike for long-distance riding At first glance, the 2021 Giant Contend AR 3 doesn’t quite match the other test bikes here when it comes to its components, and this year’

61 miles › Tough but rewarding day of fells and well-earned Lakeland views. Three hard, spectacular ascents – notorious Wrynose and Hardknott passes, plus Birker Fell – with thrilling scenery, then briefer climbs and estuary views to friendly Ulverst

88 miles Tough day (for the pros, make that half a day) combining highlights of Men’s Elite TT, Men’s Elite and Junior Road Race routes. Takes in Otley and Ilkley (cafes) and mighty Wharfedale, over the 8 per cent Kidstones Pass to Wensleydale and vi

£3500 Gravel-curious mile-muncher The Scultura has been Taiwanese bike-maker Merida’s lightweight road option for many years. The new Scultura Endurance moves far more into endurance territory and into the realm of rough-road riding with generous tyr

74 miles › Main road out of centre, then 50 miles of glorious scenery on smooth quiet roads with mild climbing. Refuel at bike haven Innerleithen, back via Gladhouse reservoir. Time is short? Go from Eskbank station (regular trains, 20min from Edinbu

59 miles Super countryside circuit with airy ridgetop views, quiet villages and a quirky windmill. Flat B roads past Woodstock, then lanes through North Aston (picnic site, nice descent), Stratton Audley (tea rooms), Brill (mill), Beckley (community

Mike Baczkowski has ridden bikes seriously, and ridden serious bikes, since his late 20s. Now 80, he recalls over the phone to Cycling Plus from his winter home in Florida of his penchant for fixing up old and abandoned bikes. Forgotten treasures, su

The sun is shining, trees are coming into leaf and birdsong is providing the soundtrack to every ride. Isn’t cycling pure unadulterated joy? Mostly. But not always. In fact, sometimes it’s a torturous place that can affect everyone. The Hell of the N

The CDA is a spin-off of Genesis’s long-time favourite Croix de Fer. The aluminium-framed CDA 30 has a mix of 10-speed Shimano Tiagra and gravel-specific GRX gearing, mechanical disc brakes and more fittings for bike-packing bags and accessories than

• Choose the essential kit you’ll need • Safely ride in traffic • Build your cycling fitness • Structure your cycle training • Take on any hill • Safely ride in a group • Fuel rides and recovery • Get smooth running gears • Set up tubeless tyres • An

£149.99 ›Pedals that like the lighter touch WE SAY… Distinctive and unique peda ls that areex pensive and lack arange of adjus tment DETAILS Carbon body; carbon blade and hollow steel axle; angular float (+/-5-degree) and lateral float (2.5mm); 13.5m

HOW WAS LIFE BEFORE THE BIKE? “I used to say I hated cycling. I thought it was geeky and the helmets looked weird. But in September 2019 I needed a boost and knowing my mum and dad have been on some epic cycling holidays, I thought I’d get a bike, ke

£2989 Smart, British-born e-gravel machine Electric bike builder Cairn is part of The Rider Firm, the British upstart that boasts an ever-expanding stable including celebrated wheel maker Hunt, Privateer mountain bikes and Dissent 133 gloves. The col

Even the most committed cyclist would be forgiven for losing focus on a long, 100-mile ride, as your mind starts to wander, pain gnaws at your legs and boredom creeps in. At best, this will cause you to suffer a drop in intensity. At worst, you might

You know you’re a serious cyclist when you buy your first set of clipless pedals, right? But with so many pedals to choose from, which brand is right for you and what do you need to look out for? Clipless pedals come in many shapes and designs, but m

£59 User and pocket-friendly WE SAY… Technology from higher-end model shas trick led down to this easy-to-use, af fordable pedal DETAILS Chromoly spindle; composite body; stainless steel platform; 0 to 9 degrees float; Keo cleat 4.5-degree standard;

Chris Froome went into the 2021 Volta a Catalunya in Spain saying that he was still searching for form. While this photo is somewhat misleading – he wasn’t dropped off the back of the whole peloton – he did lose over eight minutes on stage 1. It adde

The Big Ride Guide is brought to you by Britain’s best-selling road cycling magazine, Cycling Plus. Inside you’ll find… •44 routes from England, Scotland and Wales•Downloadable GPX files•Nearby coffee stops, pubs and accommodation WWW.BUYSUBSCRIPTION

£78.99 ›Pedals that can take a beating WE SAY… A solid and reliable mid-range pedal that features a reinforced contact area DETAILS Chromoly spindle; carbon body; stainless steel platform; Keo cleat 4.5-degree standard with 0- and 9-degree float opti