Cycling Plus UK Magazine - March 2023

In this issue

Best year ever
Fight off stagnation by heading into the new season armed with new training methods, recipes and ideas.

Stop at nothing
Life often gets in the way of cycling, but three riders tell us how they overcame the obstacles and kept on pedalling.

THE BIG RIDE p102 Black Forest
John Whitney heads to Jan Ullrich’s early stomping ground to try out one of his favourite training routes.

Making your mark

How global adventurer Mark Beaumont is finding new challenges closer to home

3 mins

Christiania Bikes

Cargo-bike trendsetters from Copenhagen who changed the international school run

2 mins

Many happy returns

Cycling uptake won't magically happen. It needs big investment

3 mins

Moots Routt RSL

£16,101 A very special gravel superbike from the experienced bike builders in Steamboat Springs

1 min

Outer Hebrides

Arran may be 'Scotland in miniature', but the Outer Hebrides is something else something other, because this chain of islands off Britain's far northwest offers the most remote and un-British cycling you can enjoy without needing a passport (the language may be unfamiliar, too: Gaelic is widely spoken).

2 mins

INFLATION BEATERS

Four budget-friendly road bikes battle it out for supremacy

3 mins

Triban RC120

£399.99 Flanders-designed all-rounder for maximum bang for your buck Weight 10.66kg (M) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork Carbon 1½sin steerer Gears Microshift 8-speed shifters, 11-34 cassette and derailleurs, Shimano Tourney 50/34 chainset Brakes Unbranded deep-drop callipers with cartridge blocks Wheels Triban 700 Finishing kit Triban stem, handlebar and 27.2mm seatpost, Triban Ergofit saddle, 28mm Hutchinson Nitro 2 tyres

3 mins

Marin Fairfax 2

£665 Flat-bar all-rounder with a wide range of gears and hydraulic brakes Weight 11.96kg (M) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork 6061 aluminium Gears Shimano Altus levers, 46/30 chainset, Tourney front derailleur, Acera rear, 11-34 cassette Brakes Tektro M275 hydraulic discs Wheels Marin aluminium double-wall, disc-specific Finishing kit Marin alloy stem, flat bar, 27.2mm seatpost, Marin Fitness Plush saddle, 35mm Vee Tire Zilent tyres

3 mins

Mango DO.GG 1X

£689.99 Steel commuter bike with a skinny steel frame, 1x gearing and hydraulic brakes Weight 11.46kg (M) Frame Chromoly steel Fork Steel Gears Microshift 9-speed shifters, rear derailleur, 11-34 cassette, 42t FSA Vera Pro narrow-wide chainset Brakes Clark hydraulic disc Wheels 28-spoke alloy rims Finishing kit Mango stem, bar and 27.2mm seatpost, Mango saddle, 32mm Continental Contact Speed tyre

3 mins

BEST YEAR EVER

FEEL FITTER, FRESHER AND STRONGER ON THE BIKE IN 2028 WITH OUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO REFRESHING YOUR TRAINING AND REINVIGORATING YOUR DIET IN THE NEW YEAR

9 mins

UP UP UP

Bikeradar.com's Jack Evans laces up the crampons for three days of mountain climbing at the first ever Haute Route Davos

9 mins

Stop at A nothing

A sound routine makes for happy riders, but what happens when life forces us to shift gear? We meet three cyclists who had to rethink their riding when their situations changed

7 mins

Merida Scultura 9000 £5,950 Ultegra Di2-equipped speedster

Weight 7.51kg (L) Frameset CF5 Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra Di2 (52/36, 11-30) Brakes Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc Wheels Reynolds Aero 46 DB Finishing kit Continental Grand Prix 5000S TR 28c tyres, Merida Team SL carbon seatpost, Merida Team SL 1P integrated bar/stem, Prologo Scratch M5 saddle

3 mins

Cannondale Hollowgram R45

£899 Wheels that perform above their pay grade

3 mins

Zooz Urban Ultralight 250

£2,100 Stylish urban ebike with a classic BMX twist Weight 22.09kg (one size) Frame 4130 Chromoly steel Fork Chromoly steel Gears One speed (48 x 16) Wheels 24\" alloy rims on disc front hub, Zooz motor rear Brakes Zooz hydraulic disc brakes (160mm rotors) E-system Zooz 36V/250W rear hub motor, 576Wh battery, LCD control display, throttle Finishing kit Integrated seat, Kenda 24 x 2.125-inch tyres, Low cromo BMX bar, BMX clamshell 4-bolt stem, integrated rear light

3 mins

Raising the bar

Ribble has just marked its 125-year anniversary. And with it their most futuristic and fastest bike yet. We venture to the roads of the Ribble Valley to ride the ground-breaking Ultra, and see just where the revamped brand is heading next

9 mins

BACK ΤΟ BLACK

John Whitney takes a plane-free trip to Germany's Black Forest region to experience pro legend Jan Ullrich's old training ground

8 mins

OFF-THE-BIKE BOOSTERS

Cycling performance gains don't have to come from time in the saddle. Here are four sports that'll enhance your riding

1 min

Backpedalling

Ned contemplates 2022, a year of personal highs and lows

3 mins

Back to basics

Sharpen up your skill set, from cornering to climbing, with these performance upgrades

5 mins

Ascend like a pro

Fly up mountains like Pogačar with these gravity-defying training strategies, performance upgrades and fuelling tips

4 mins

DESCEND IN STYLE

Ride downhill in style with our ultimate guide to the exhilarating art of descending

5 mins

Turbo boost

'Tis the season to hop on the turbo and just ride, right? Think again with our ultimate guide to optimising your indoor cycling

4 mins

RIDE YOUR FIRST 100

Conquering a gloriously challenging 100-mile bike ride is a rite of passage for road cyclists. So saddle up, dream big and make 2023 the year you join the '100 Club'

5 mins

Read all stories from Cycling Plus UK

Cycling Plus UK Magazine Description:

Cycling Plus is the manual for the modern road cyclist. Whether you're cycling weekly, an occasional new rider or a Tour de France fan you’ll find everything you need. Each issue is packed with buying advice and tests of essential cycling gear - everything from bikes to bags! Cycling Plus is the place to find training advice, nutrition secrets and practical tips guaranteed to improve your bicycling. It's also full of inspirational rides, real-life cycling stories and entertaining riding-related features.