CATEGORIES

Air Apparent - Pollution hasn't gone away. It's still there in every lungful, even if we can't see it in the air or on the news. But there are reasons to breathe easier, thanks to pioneering projects using cycling 'citizen scientists'. Rob Ainsley took part in one...

The toxic effects of pollution have been known about for years. 'Just two things of which you must beware: Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air!' sang 1960s satirist Tom Lehrer.Over recent decades, though, pollution has dropped down our list of things to worry about, thanks to ominously capitalised concerns such as Climate Change, AI, Global Conflict, Species Collapse, etc. That doesn't, unfortunately, mean the problem has expired. Air quality often exceeds safe limits, with far-reaching and crippling effects on our health.

No limits

Not every adventure needs to be that epic, says bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz

UNBOUND UNLEASHED

Josh Patterson was one of 34 starters for the inaugural edition of Unbound in 2006. Now, with more than 5,000 riders taking part in today's event, he charts the rise of the most important race in gravel

FOREST COMMISSION

Looking for a goal race in 2025 that'll stimulate the synapses and live long in the memory? You'd struggle to do better than ENID CRV in Finland

15 OF THE BEST ADVENTURES

Featuring Yorkshire, the USA, Sri Lanka and more, here are our picks of the world's greatest gravel races and routes

The stuff of dreams

Ned sings the praises of the Paris Olympics road-race course

"I rode 3,000 miles around Britain on a bamboo bike to highlight our climate crisis"

Recordbreaking cyclist and triathlete Kate Strong, 45, took to the road to raise awareness of environmental issues

FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE

We venture into the hidden gem of the glorious Creuse, one of France's least populated regions

STAR TREK

New tube shapes and carbon lay-up makes the eighth generation of Trek's legendary Madone an aero and climbing bike all rolled into one

GOLD RUSH

With conflict around the world, Paris 2024 was a ray of light. Here are our highs of a mighty Olympics

HIGHER CALLING

Pro cycling commentary is a formidable skill that Ned Boulting and Matt Stephens make look easy. Andy McGrath drops in on their booth at this year's Giro d'Italia to learn their secrets

COMFORT AND JOY?

Is a £2,000 to £3,000 endurance bike with mechanical Shimano 105 going to do the job for you? Read on to find out how our tasty trio performed...

Here Tadej...

Even in a thrilling Giro, the shadow of the Tour de France looms large

Tern Orox R14

The Orox just can't be pigeonholed. It's designed, say Tern, for adventure and utility, be it personal or commercial (it even has a built-in tow bar!).

SRAM Apex AXS XPLR groupset

\"Apex shifters are basically the same as on Rival AXS... and the brake units follow the same design as the latest Force AXS brakes\"

Land of the Giants

Warren Rossiter heads to Taiwan to experience the launch of the new Giant TCR

Tourtalk

Eight key talking points ahead of a much-anticipated race

PFEIFFER GEORGI CAPTAIN MARVEL

Great Britain's 2023 national road champion Pfeiffer Georgi is one of the youngest road captains in the peloton. Here she explains this unique job and the pressures that go with it in the season's biggest race

"I help people overcome life's problems through cycling"

Rob Brown, 72, from Yorkshire, has created a haven of inclusivity and accessible cycling in Dalby Forest

Great start

Here's how to avoid ultra-processed foods at breakfast

HELL OR HIGH WATER

The Paris-Roubaix Challenge pits amateurs against an abridged version of the iconic 'Hell of the North' race

Go ultra

Want to go long, very long, in 2021? Here's our proven advice on taking on an ultra cycling challenge such as LEJOG or Chase the Sun in 20214

DAYS OF THUNDER

Champion cyclist Maurice Burton battled racism to compete in the Six Days of Ghent, the pinnacle of track racing in the 1970s. To promote his new authorised biography, he speaks to us about this wild era on the boards

FAST TRACK

Which of this trio of speedy mid-priced gravellers would make the best all-round, off-road race companion? We find out…

HOW TO WIN THE TOUR DE FRANCE

What does it take to win a stage of the Tour or even the race itself? Cycling Plus investigates the physiology and skills required to triumph in the world's biggest bike race

Objectives of desire

Ned ponders his affection for cycling on a ride from London to Minehead

ONE OF A KIND

Project One combines premium-quality customised bikes with an endless palette of colours and designs from the creative experts at Trek. It's a winning formula. Here's why...

Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 Driftless

£2,700 Aluminium bike-packing-friendly gravel bike

Gower Peninsula, Wales

A rider powers up the Cefn Bryn ridge on south Wales' Gower Peninsula.

Slow commotion

Downing Street targeting 20mph zones is attacking popular policy