Digital editor Richard Windsor's Meteor Works Aesir tourer

A workhorse with an impeccable pedigree for long days in the saddle where comfort is king

A few years ago I decided to give up doing anything particularly fast or competitive on a bicycle any more, much as I enjoyed paying for the privilege of finishing in the mid to low end of a local road race.

Long-distance, multi-day touring had captured my interest – an activity much better suited to sub-zone two riding but still literally packed with challenges thanks to the sheer number of hours and days spent loaded up in the saddle.

For my initial adventures I’d used off the-peg endurance bikes which, although they did the job, weren’t really built for strapping on bags. And so I set out to build the ultimate tourer, something that could handle the demands of bikepacking and the varied terrain that comes with it, all without feeling slow and sluggish.

The build

The starting point was the Meteor Works Aesir frame, designed and built by Lee Prescott of Velo Atelier in Warwickshire. The Aesir is Velo Atelier’s first production frame, aiming to offer the quality construction you’d hope for from 30 years’ experience in frame building, but with a much more affordable price tag (£1,500) than a bespoke offering.