ENDURANCE ROAD BIKES
£1,500 models from Kinesis and Merida MED TO MANCHE 1,000 miles across France aged 78
To boldly ride Going the distance: Audax UK at 50
Gallovidian Gravel
First look at Cycling UK’s new route
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From the editor
Gliding through the countryside, with scenery rolling by like a droneshot video, long summer rides feel like a great escape. The realities of everyday life recede. Push the pedals. Feel the breeze. Nothing to think about except whether the coffee and cake will be nice at the next café.
Whatever your definition of a long ride – whether it’s 100 miles or 20 – now is the best time of the year to head out on one. Daylight will last for more than 16 hours. It will be warm (hopefully) and dry (fingers crossed).
Long distances can seem daunting but are only as hard as you and your bike make them. You don’t have to ride out of your comfort zone. Sportives aren’t races. Audaxes definitely aren’t. Solo or club rides? Relax. Turn off Strava. Stick your Garmin in your pocket.
I’ve done century rides that were certainly hard in parts. At the CTC North Yorkshire dinner earlier this year, president Anne Benton reminded me that we’d met 25 years ago, halfway up White Horse Bank on the CTC Ron Kitching Ride. She was sensibly spinning her smallest gear. I was grinding up on fixed. But for more recent centuries, I’ve had an 11−48 cassette and a mellower mindset. Unsurprisingly, it’s totally transformed the feel of the rides.
QUICK RELEASES
04 Freewheeling
Bits and pieces from the bike world
07 Quick releases
The Cyclists’ Defence Fund at 25; events from around the UK; new trustees sought; and ways to make the most of your membership
TOUR & EXPLORE
18 Gallovidian Gravel Cycling UK’s new Adventure Series route
24 Weekender
The Ards Peninsula
46 Books
Cycling inspiration when you’re stuck inside
48 Merida Scultura
Endurance 300
An all-rounder road bike for sportives and more
51 Kinesis 4S Tiagra
Endurance road bike at a bargain, on-sale price
55 Diamant Mahon World
A fully equipped German trekking bike
58 Casual cycling shorts
Six pairs of baggies that show Lycra is optional
OVER TO YOU
Printed by: Acorn Web Offset Ltd, Loscoe Close, Normanton Industrial Estate, Normanton, WF6 1TW T: 01924 220633
Non-cyclists or new cyclists may be agog when you mention big mileages. Yet you absolutely do not need to be some kind of cycling superhero to ride long distances. It’s mostly about comfort, gearing and a pace that suits you. That and some fuel for your ride. Coffee and cake, anyone?
DAN JOYCE Editor
26 Med to Manche E-biking 1,000 miles across France at 78
FEATURES
30 To boldy ride
Audax UK is 50 this year. Four riders discuss going the distance
IN THE FRAME
39 Gear
Components and accessories tested
44 Shop window
Previews of new products
63 Letters
Your feedback on Cycle and cycling
66 Profile
Robert Murphy’s cycling legacy
68 Q&A
Your technical, health and legal questions
70 Bike finder
Budget electric-assist trike for a 90₋year₋old
73 Travellers’ tales
Cycling UK members’ ride reports
Founded in 1878
Top: Mick Kirkman
Cover photo: Heading east from Kirroughtree Forest on the Gallovidian Gravel route. By Mick Kirkman
Quick releases
Ride with us
Make the most of your Cycling UK membership this year.
From riding together to saving on kit and getting involved in events, your membership supports you to cycle more and enjoy every mile.
BIKE LIGHTS
With the nights drawing in, make sure you’re well lit – and legal – on your bike. Get 10% off lights and other accessories with Evans Cycles. cyclinguk.org/ evans-10−percent
CYCLE TO SCHOOL WEEK
Get ready for Cycle to School Week (5−9 October 2026) by getting your bike serviced. Members get a free 10−point bike health check at Evans Cycles. cyclinguk.org/ evans-bike-check
Autumn Summer
Bike Week
The UK’s biggest celebration of cycling is back! Bike Week is a great excuse to get out on your bike. If you want to do something special, host a Bike Week Brunch to encourage more people to get on bikes and raise money for Cycling UK. cyclinguk.org/ bikeweek
CHALLENGE YOURSELF
Do something fun and sign up to an inflatable 5km run in support of Cycling UK! cyclinguk.org/inflatableobstacle-course
SHOP
Look out for exclusive new merchandise and member discounts as we relaunch our online shop during Bike Week.
Kalas
As the weather warms up, freshen up your cycling wardrobe with 15% off clothing with Kalas. cyclinguk.org/ kalas-kit
Cycle together
Don’t let winter stop you cycling! Find a local group to stay motivated on cold, wet days, keep fit, share miles with others and lift your mood. Ride through winter together, because winter miles bring summer smiles! cyclinguk.org/groups
FREE CYCLING SUPPORT
Take part in The Big Bike Revival for free cycling support helping adults in England learn, repair, ride, build confidence and rediscover the joy of cycling. cyclinguk.org/bigbikerevival
3000, c y c liststook part in2025’ s gl o w r sedi
Free Wills Month
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MEMBER BENEFITS
Planning that trip of a lifetime?
Make sure you have travel insurance – members get 10 % off with Bikmo. cyclinguk.org/bikmo
30,944 Forum users
Spring season advice
Get yourself and your bike spring ready. Read our spring cycling advice. cyclinguk.org/spring
Glow rides
Glow rides will be back on 22 October to brighten the dark evenings. In towns and cities across the UK, we’ll come together for joyful rides that spotlight the need for better cycle routes. Organise your own ride: cyclinguk.org/glow-rides
Winter
2,000+
Guidebooks purchased in the last year
Take on our Adventure Series
Explore beyond Gallovidian Gravel: our Adventure Series features eight incredible routes to plan your next cycling challenge. This time of year is perfect to tick off another route, with guidebooks and Ordnance Survey map posters available in our shop. cyclinguk.org/shop
Christmas gifting
Black Friday offers on festive gifts and exclusive Cycling UK Christmas cards: the perfect treats for cyclists cyclinguk.org/shop
SADDLE SKEDADDLE
Planning a cycling holiday next year? Saddle Skedaddle offers incredible UK and overseas trips, with exclusive member discounts. cyclinguk.org/saddle-skedaddle
NATIONAL POTHOLE DAY
Want safer, smoother cycling? If you spot a pothole, report it with our online tool Fill That Hole, proudly supported by Cycle SOS. cyclinguk.org/ fillthathole
Gravel Gallovidian
Get ready to explore south-west Scotland when Cycling UK’s new route launches in late June. Ross Adams did a trial run this spring
Great rides
Gallovidian Gravel takes Cycling UK’s bikepacking routes north of the border. While the existing Great North Trail runs the whole length of Scotland and more, this new route will be the first in our Adventure Series located entirely within the country.
Scouting out a new route near the Scottish Borders in March throws up all sorts of challenges. One of the biggest issues was the weather. In order to launch a new route in the summer, all the legwork must take place in the preceding winter months. Yet despite the storms, wetter weeks and darker days, we’re proud of what we’ve produced so far. At the time of writing, the route is still being finalised. We’re launching it on 25 June, so I can’t share all the details relating to the locations visited or the direction of travel. But I can tell you everything we put into creating it!
Scotland is a world-class cycling destination. Off-road riders may know it best for its 7Stanes mountain bike trails, its downhill track at Fort William, and the emergence of Innerleithen as a trail-riding honeypot. Yet it also offers some of the best untouched landscapes
in the UK. If you want to explore what southern Scotland has to offer for adventure riding, saddle up for Gallovidian Gravel this summer.
Definitely Mabie
Our first day started in Mabie Forest, just outside of the official start point of Dumfries. The town is a gateway to Dumfries and Galloway. A statue of its most famous resident, Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, watches over you from his plinth opposite Greyfriars Church.
Crossing the river Nith you leave behind the bustle of Dumfries until you return via the picturesque bridges days, nights, miles and smiles later. The town is well connected and easily accessible thanks to a good road network and a train station. There’s a wealth of places to stay to suit all pockets, and with plenty of history and intrigue, Dumfries is more than just a start and end point for the route.
our positivity and sense of humour, and set off. We embraced the rain and Irish Sea breeze with enthusiasm as we knew the sort of scenery that awaited.
Braking
for cake
“Our latest route is firmly geared towards a gravel or adventure touring bike”
The first sections of the route incorporated a varied mix of surprisingly good, segregated cycle paths and back streets, leading to forest fire roads and quiet country lanes. This set the tone of the entire ride. We’ve worked hard to ensure our latest route is firmly geared towards a gravel or adventure touring bike. The climbs are longer and steadier, slowly revealing epic scenes that you should have the breath to enjoy, rather than rising up out of the ground like steep ramps.
Our first day coincided with a yellow weather warning. Heeding the maxim that ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing’, we donned our waterproofs, unpacked
Remaining on the coast, we took refuge in one of the coastal villages along the way to escape the rain and refuel. Taking time to stop and visit local eateries plays a significant part in creating our Adventure Series routes. Local shops and places to eat are fundamental to these more remote communities, and by promoting and encouraging
Top right: Climbing gently on gravel tracks, heading east from Kirroughtree Forest. Above: Soggy but our spirits weren’t dampened as we visited the ancient ruins at New Abbey
Photos: Mick Kirkman
Photos this page: all Fergus Coyle except lady in cap, by Sue Lacey
Smaller photos, clockwise from above: Some audaxers ride fixed-wheel, even for the 1,200km Paris Brest Paris! Cake at the roadside. Volunteers make audax tick
To boldly ride
Audax – Latin for bold – is the original non-competitive, long-distance cycling discipline. On Audax UK’s 50th anniversary, Liam FitzPatrick, Anne Young, Mark Moroney and Nadia Kerr explain what it means to them
Liam FitzPatrick
IF I’M HONEST, the first few miles were fairly dull. We had to get out of London on suburban streets that were busy even in the early morning of a July Saturday. But then we hit Kent. Dropping down from Higham and heading towards the Isle of Grain, the countryside opened up. We found ourselves on unfamiliar, sun-dappled lanes. And when we reached our first check-in at the beach, we were met with the sight of the Essex coast across the water and home-baked cakes from the ride organiser.
That event was The Way to the Sea, a 200km audax that I rode in 2022. I’d been doing audaxes for nearly 20 years at that point, and it was typical of the events I had tackled before and since. It showcased a route I would never have found on my own. We looped around the remote Kentish marshlands, where Dickens’s terrified
Pip had met the escaped the convict Magwitch. We made it to the Isle of Sheppey and then headed home along shaded roads once trodden by pilgrims. Finally, we slipped into London for a beer by the riverside at the old Greenwich Naval College.
At a little over 120 miles, that ride was one of the shorter ones in the Audax UK calendar. But regardless of ride length, the opportunity for entrants to explore new terrain is probably one of the reasons why more than 17,500 individual rides (clocking up over 3.5 million miles) were validated last year by the governing body for the sport, Audax UK
fare for many long-distance cycling fans, recent years have seen rising interest in rides of 50, 100 and 200km.
Audax UK’s roots and routes It’s a far cry from when the organisation was first mooted in the CTC magazine 50 years ago. In 1976, 16 long-distance enthusiasts came together to put on events to enable people to qualify for the oldest cycling ride in the world: the 1,200km Paris Brest Paris (PBP), which dates back to 1891. Initially PBP was a race, but amateurs were later allowed in a separate time-limited event that was, and still is, governed by Audax Club Parisien.
The focus on PBP by these original Audax UK member resulted in longerdistance qualifying rides that crossed regions and almost always entailed riding through the night – as opposed to my summer daytime excursion into Kent. But the fiercely protected, non-competitive ethos has been a constant regardless of ride length. Whether it’s a 60−mile tour of cake shops or a 600km battle up and down the length of Wales, there are set maximum and minimum times. With racing strictly banned, the format encourages collaboration. Long-lasting friendships are forged at café stops and at the roadside mending punctures.
“Long-lasting friendships are forged at café stops and at the roadside mending punctures”
It reflects both the growing popularity of audax and the range of challenges it offers. While rides of 300, 400 and 600km are the staple
Importantly, Audax UK provides challenges to match most tastes, without the need to publish finish times or announce winners. Some riders aim to complete a Super Randonneur series of rides covering 200, 300, 400 and 600km in one year. Others are simply glad to test themselves over 50 or 100km, or to set out to sample a fresh route or catch up with friends. Audax UK’s Randonneur Round the Year programme has become a popular way to commit to completing 12 consecutive monthly 200km rides. For most people, though, the test is very often about mental
Main photo: Riders on the Bryan Chapman 600, which runs from Chepstow to Menai Bridge and back
In the frame
Merida Scultura Endurance 300
This £1,500 road bike lives up to the long-ride aspirations of its name, but some components will be divisive.
Guy Kesteven tested it
Merida’s Scultura Endurance 300 is a good example of a modern ‘all-rounder’ road bike, complete with wider tyre compatibility and internally cabled, clean lines. It’s a sleek, alloy-framed equivalent of the ‘clubman’ road bike of yesteryear.
Frame and fork
room in the full carbon fork, which also gets mudguard mounts.
Merida is a Taiwanese manufacturing giant that’s been building excellent alloy and carbon bikes for decades. The brand has never been shy of idiosyncratic innovation, and the finned ‘radiator’, heat-dissipating disc-brake mounts of the Scultura 300 definitely sit in that category. Looking beyond acronyms and buzzwords, the triple-butted, pressure-shaped frame uses smoothed welds, blended stays and curved profiles to give a ‘carbon if you squint’ aesthetic. There are two bottle mounts, as well as discreet mudguard/rack mounts.
Merida says there’s space for 32mm tyres with mudguards and 35mm without. I think that’s over cautious – which is lucky as the 32mm Maxxis tyres it comes with actually measure 34.6mm. Yet there’s still several millimetres between the tyre and the closest parts of the frame. There’s even more
There are two issues likely to cause consternation among long-distance riders. The first is Merida’s decision to feed brake and gear lines into the frame through the headset. This keeps things tidy but means upper headset bearing replacement will require a disconnection of the controls. It also creates tight turns in the gear cables, which adds friction even when new.
The second issue is the PressFit bottom bracket. To be fair, interference-fit bottom bracket bearings seem to be more reliable now, and the wider shell does help give the Merida its generous tyre clearance. But a threaded bottom bracket will always pose less risk of irreversible frame damage from a worn bearing or clumsy insertion. They’re easier to find spares for, too.
Ride
I found the sizing and shape of the Scultura excellent. The head tube is appropriately tall for comfort,
without leaving you at the mercy of headwinds. The tapered fork steerer inside is stiff enough to escape the flex and vagueness that can plague a lot of endurance-category bikes on ‘sporting’ descents.
Merida has kept the handling angles sharp and the fork offset racy, so it feels responsive and able to make the most of the enhanced traction from the chubby tyres. You do need to actively pilot the Scultura more than a slacker, more stable bike, and this can be tiring as ride times or speeds increase. You’ll also need to be wary of toe overlap if you’ve got larger-than-average feet, especially with mudguards.
Top photo, this page:
Quirky mounts by the brake callipers are there to help
Casual shorts
Skin-tight Lycra isn’t the only option for summer cycling. Dan Joyce and Jaz Morse test six pairs of baggy shorts: three men’s, three women’s
Padded Lycra shorts are primarily designed for racers. They’re more aerodynamic and they can improve undercarriage comfort on longer or faster rides. But they’re not obligatory and they also have disadvantages: no pockets (usually); worse ventilation; and a revealing appearance.
Baggy shorts are a normal-looking alternative for non-racers that can double as everyday clothing off the bike. They work well for mountain biking, gravel riding, touring, commuting – even road riding. They can be worn with or without padding. If you do want cushioning, choose a pair that comes with, or will accommodate, removable undershorts – or invest in padded underwear (cyclinguk.org/grouptest-padded-pants). Most baggies fit fine over Lycra shorts, too.
Casual shorts for cycling differ from high-street fashions in that the fabric typically incorporates elastane (which
may be listed as Lycra or Spandex).
The stretchiness from this creates more freedom of movement for pedalling. They’re usually cut lower at the waist so it won’t dig in and higher at the back to prevent exposed skin. To reduce pressure or chafing while cycling, the seat will have an extra, diamond-shaped panel (or gusset) or will use less obtrusive seams.
Most baggy cycling shorts have three or more pockets. Zipped ones are obviously best for valuables, especially when riding a mountain bike or recumbent. Other common features include: an adjustable or elasticated waist; belt loops; a zipped fly; and a water-repellant coating to help shrug off showers. Some have prominent logos, which make the shorts look more ‘bikey’.
As ever, sizing and fit varies. Try before you buy if possible, particularly if you’re a woman buying unisex shorts.
What to look for
Leg length
Shorts ride up a little when pedalling, so most cycling shorts reach at least mid thigh to prevent skin rubbing on the saddle. Many finish at or just above the knee. (We’re not looking at three-quarterlength shorts here.)
Seat
A gusset prevents uncomfortable seams between the saddle and your soft bits. Flat seams in lighter-weight stretch fabrics can still be comfortable, however. Some shorts have a reinforced seat for wear resistance.
Pad compatibility
Few baggies have a stitchedin seat pad because the looser fit means it wouldn’t sit snugly against your body. If you want padding and the shorts don’t come with an inner, try them for fit with your preferred padded underwear or Lycra shorts. Mountain bikers may also want kneepad compatibility.
Fastening
Press-studs are convenient but can pop open while riding. One or two buttons at the waist makes for a more secure fastening. Ideally, the shorts will fit well without a belt. If you need to use one, lightweight walking-trouser belts work best.
Pockets
When trying on shorts, take with you whatever you expect to put in your pockets so that you can be sure your phone/keys/snacks will fit securely and comfortably. Inner pockets are often the first part of shorts to wear through.
Baggy shorts aren’t just for mountain biking
Vulpine Women’s Gravel Shorts
£70, vulpine.cc
Vulpine’s take on women’s baggies leans towards the smarter, more understated end of the spectrum. The cotton/elastane fabric is noticeably thicker than others on test, which makes them a great option for cooler spring rides where the extra warmth is welcome. That added heft doesn’t feel restrictive, however, and they strike a good balance between durability and comfort on the bike. The stiffer fabric gave me that slight gap at the back you find when wearing men’s shorts, although I can’t say I noticed them moving around too much while riding.
The cut is slightly more tailored than traditional MTB shorts, avoiding the ultra-baggy look without veering into anything too snug. Length is well judged, sitting comfortably over knee pads, making them a solid option for trail riding. However, I am a big fan of the humble zipped pocket for rough MTB riding, and unfortunately these only provide a small one for keys. Off the bike, the clean styling gives them a versatility that works just as well for a café stop or short commute.
Colours: moss, sandstone, blue.
Sizes: XS-XL (M tested); men’s S-XXL. Smart, versatile shorts with excellent coverage for cooler rides
Rapha Women’s Trail Lightweight Shorts
£130, rapha.cc
These shorts arrived with the brand’s usual attention to detail, right down to instructions on how to open the packaging! On the bike, I found they deliver a close, ‘race-inspired’ fit that feels more akin to their road cycling roots than traditional MTB baggies; I’d size up if you’re looking for a more relaxed fit. Sitting just above the hip with a slightly elasticated waistband, these felt like they were designed with women in mind, rather than being a smaller pair of men’s shorts. The lightweight fabric is a highlight, keeping things cool and comfortable on longer rides or warmer days. However, the streamlined cut and minimal excess material mean they’re best suited to gravel or touring rather than more technical trail use. I found them slightly over-engineered with features that won’t necessarily appeal to riders looking for simplicity, though on a multi-day tour I think you’d begin to appreciate the light feel and adjustments available.
Colours: dark grey.
The fit from Madison’s shorts is noticeably more relaxed than the others here, providing plenty of freedom of movement without feeling bulky or ill-shaped. Similar to the Rapha pair, these felt designed with a woman in mind as they sit comfortably above the hip without any awkward bunching when pedalling. The generous length also meant they worked easily with knee pads, with no gap.
While they may not have the premium feel or standout styling of the others on test, they deliver where it matters most for mountain biking and have become a staple for me as the weather has been warming up. They cinch nicely around the waistband, and the mid-weight fabric inspires confidence with a traditional rip-stop feel.
On longer gravel rides, I did find the metal buckle hook began to dig after a while, so these wouldn’t be ideal for longer tours or cross-country epics. Zipped pockets all round does make these a firm favourite for me, though. At time of writing, they were on sale for less than half price: £19.99.
Sizes: XXS-XL (M tested); men’s XS-XXL.
Lightweight and refined, but best for gravel and road-leaning rides
Colours: black, sand.
Sizes: 8−16 (12 tested); men’s S-XXL. A reliable, well-fitting all-rounder that nails the MTB brief
Madison Roam Women’s Stretch Shorts madison.cc, £49.99
Bikefinder
Which bike should I buy?
Ask us at cyclinguk.org/bikefinder
ELECTRIC TRIKE
For: Michael Wynn, aged 90, from Topsham, Devon. Bike needs: I have two good tourers but am losing my balance so am considering a trike, probably electric. It would be used for shopping, plus some short rides into town and country. I’m thinking of a Scout from Buytricycle. Must have: Low gears, and I like simple machines with hub gears. Must not have: Multiple chainrings or high gears; 15mph is fine by me. Attract thieves. Budget: Less than £1,500.
RICHARD PEACE
While the price tag of Buytricycle’s Scout is attractive – and you are buying direct from a UK-based retailer rather than from a brand based abroad – I would still urge caution. The bike itself doesn’t fare too badly on Trustpilot, but there are some vociferous complainants when it comes to customer service, which rather negates the value of UK backup.
Still, the bang for your buck looks pretty impressive with the Scout. I’d recommend avoiding anything similar on eBay and the like. At your budget of £1,500, you may struggle to get out of the ‘pile ’em high and sell ’em cheap’ market and the associated lack of aftercare.
Jorvik is a step up from the likes of Buytricycle in terms of customer service. As you like hub gears, the Jorvik Rida could tick many of your boxes; it has a Shimano Nexus 3−speed hub. The Rida retails at £1,999 (or £1,665.83 if you qualify for VAT relief). One handy feature of many Jorvik trikes is a low-speed throttle for hill starts. If you are sticking strictly to budget, however, e-trikes do pop up on reputable secondhand sites like mynextbike.co.uk at considerable discounts.
I note you live in Devon so if you regularly head up very steep hills, consider a mid-drive model. Jorvik makes several. They tend to be pricier than hubmotor models. Beyond that, the likes of Cube and vanRaam trikes are of a much higher quality and price, but you would have to be very lucky to find a secondhand model near your budget.
Jorvik Rida
£1,999
Switch GO kit
£349
Mission Cycles Industrial
Cargo Trike £950
DAN JOYCE
I agree with Richard that the best option would be to raise your budget by £500 and buy a Jorvik Rida. But if £1,500 is an absolute limit, you can still do better than the Buytricycle Scout, in my opinion. Doing so involves buying a budget trike and a reputable, retrofit e-bike kit separately.
For the trike, I’d suggest the Mission Cycles Industrial Cargo Trike (£950, missioncycles.co.uk). This has Shimano Nexus 7−speed hub gearing, along with 24in wheels, a cargo platform and a robust steel frame. The downsides are high overall weight and, if you’re not a fan, a rear coaster brake. Other options from Mission Cycles include the Trilogy Adult Trike (£770) and the Semi-recumbent tricycle (£1,310); the latter would be over budget once you factor in an e-bike kit.
For the e-bike conversion, a Swytch front-hubmotor kit (swytchbike.com) is simple and inexpensive: the Swytch GO kit starts at £349, the Swytch MAX at £499. Neither is available built into a 24in front wheel, so you’ll need to factor in a wheel build – not a problem, budget-wise, if you get the Swytch GO. Alternatively, the Swytch MAX kit is available with a 20in wheel, which would fit the smaller of the Mission Trilogy models. If you’re considering the Mission Semi-recumbent, a 16in Swytch MAX front wheel would fit that.
All the Swytch motors have a maximum torque rating of 40Nm. For the riding you describe, that should be sufficient. If you have steep hills to climb, you could instead get an 80Nm TongSheng TSDZ2B mid-motor (electric-bike-conversions.co.uk). Fitted to a Mission Trilogy trike that could still come in under budget, as the kit costs from £660 with a battery.
I note you live in Devon so if you regularly head up very They tend to be pricier than hubthe likes of Cube and vanRaam quality and price, but be very lucky to find so you’ll need to factor in a wheel build – not a problem, the Swytch MAX kit is available with a 20in wheel, which you’re considering the Mission Semi-recumbent, a 16in (electric-bike-conversions.co.uk). Fitted to a Mission kit costs from £660 with a battery.
Travellers’ tales
Marcher Castles in March
Who: Mike Raine & Sally Hancox
Where: Welsh borders
When: March 2026
Share your story
We’d love to hear your Travellers’ tales! Email: editor@ cyclinguk.org
Leaving Shrewsbury station, we took quiet streets to the riverside cycleway. This path along the Severn felt like a gift. We rolled along beside the swollen brown river, its presence loud.
Beyond town, spring gathered. Blackthorn blossomed, celandines carpeted the ground and robins declared territories. Sparrows squabbled, a buzzard mewed overhead, and the land opened gently towards Wroxeter, where the ghost of a Roman city lay quiet behind a fence.
Lanes carried us on, past hazel, hawthorn and widening fields. A feed lorry thundered past, enlarging potholes as it went. After Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge and lunch, the hills made us work – although only as far as an overnight stop in Much Wenlock.
Day two stretched us further. We rode beneath Wenlock Edge, up big climbs and into a headwind. By Ludlow we were ready for the welcoming bunkhouse.
By day three, the rhythm had settled: quiet lanes and bridleways and hot sun. Presteigne offered rest. Knighton slipped by. And in Knucklas, Ying’s Thai cooking restored body and spirit on the eve of our third night.
On Offa’s Dyke next morning, skylarks lifted upwards, bees drifted on the verge and then we heard curlew. That bubbling, ancient-sounding note carried across the hills and brought smiles to our faces.
We declined to descend to Clun and stayed up high as far as the Kerry Ridgeway. We saw cattle, sheep and a red kite floating above. Then we swooped down to Newtown, where we had a lovely stay and a Caribbean dinner.
Over the Stiperstones and Long Mynd, we were blessed with calm, dry weather, then had another drop down to Ludlow for our fifth night. Next morning we rolled back to Shrewsbury, where we boarded the train home with tired legs and the curlew’s call still in our ears.
LNER alternative
Who: Victor Arotsky
Where: England
When: May 2025
When I told my daughter that I was going to come and visit her during her first year as a student in York, she probably assumed that I’d be taking the train from our home in London. Instead, I dug out my cyclecamping gear, refurbished my commuting bike to make it more suitable for touring and set off on two wheels.
This was my first cyclecamping trip for 27 years. For the first half of my four-day ride I stayed west of the A1, cycling along gently undulating country roads and through pretty, wellkept villages. The second half of the route was through flatter farmland, with little to break up the stiff northerly breeze.
I was lucky with the weather and arrived in York on a bright spring day. There I collected my daughter. We returned together, travelling first class on the train to London. This was my bribe to get her to stay in York a couple of days after lectures had finished for the term!
The journey was a great success and a reminder that, however long it’s been since your last trip, you never know when you’ll find an opportunity to get back in the saddle.
