Jack Thurston is barrelling along with the unchecked enthusiasm of a man unburdened by complex assignments and tight deadlines. "I'm just loving this ride," he exclaims, as we hit the foot of yet another sharp climb in a part of England that he only half-jokingly, I think, calls the 'Leicestershire Alps'.
There is, undoubtedly, a lot to love, with mile upon mile of pin-drop quiet lanes piercing this magnificently and, somewhat unexpectedly for me, undulating land. But that isn't why Jack is so happy. Well, obviously, in part, it is; this is an author who's built a career on routing lanes exactly like this one for cyclists throughout his Lost Lanes series of books, which is now a collection of five. No, he is loving it largely because his work on his latest route compendium, short of a few media assignments like this one, is done.
The last time Jack was here, on a day last year that was even greyer and colder than this, he was deep into the work on the latest book of his series, Lost Lanes Central, released in May. That meant coming up with a suitable route, and all the trial and error that involves, inside a couple of days. There's a pressure that comes with that and, now unshackled from cumbersome planning and logistics, Jack is able to enjoy the fruits of his labour. And enjoy them, we shall.
This isn't Cycling Plus's first encounter on the road with Jack, either. Four years ago, we linked up with him in Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire, on the launch of Lost Lanes West, for a ride which had the misfortune to coincide with the 'Beast from the East' arctic blast of weather that brought the UK to a standstill. Today is the final day of May 2022 and, while that should bring warmer weather, it feels too marginal for our liking as we exit Melton Mowbray via the back door, under granite skies leaching out unwelcome chilly rain, which really has no business to be falling on the last day of meteorological spring.
Bu hikaye Cycling Plus UK dergisinin August 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Cycling Plus UK dergisinin August 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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