This month’s mag has a distinct gravel flavour. We say gravel, but ‘gravel riding’ was born out of the USA, which is blessed from top to toe with epic, true gravel tracks that stretch for miles and miles. We do have gravel roads in the UK, but true gravel is few and far between, often in remote parts of the country. What we do have is a huge network of bridleways, tow paths and singletrack, so when we say gravel, what we mean is any place you can legally ride your bike. Our main bike test this month includes six bikes designed for that purpose, with chunky tyres, smaller wheels and kinder gear ratios, from the likes of Pinnacle, Cannondale, and Genesis.
We’ve also First Ride reviews of two more gravel bikes – the Cipollini MCM Allroad and Genesis Day One 20, and in Features, we’ve a gravel skills masterclass with top ‘crosser Nick Craig.
But for those who still haven’t crossed the rubicon to gravel riding, we’ve get plenty of tarmac-focussed bikes and kit, including tests of the Bianchi Aria E-Road, Enigma Etape Disc bikes, and kit such as Specialized’s S-Works Exos shoes, ENVE SES 3.4 Disc wheels, Campagnolo Super Record 12-Speed Disc groupset, Specialized Power Crank and the Kask Valegro helmet.
In this month’s Gear Guide, we test 14 pairs of top-end road shoes, and the electronic version of the previously mentioned Super Record group. We also ride Ribble's new range of bikes and wonder how one of Britain's biggest bargain brands reinvented itself at the cutting edge.
In Features, we look at how technology can save your life on the bike, go behind the scenes at Altura in our Best of British series, and go long at the inaugural Haute Route Oman. We also meet the class of 2019 for Team Alpecin, who are once again gunning for the Etape du Tour.
In Big Ride, we head to the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Skye, and in Training Camp we learn how to preserve energy like the world’s best sprinters.
If that’s not all, the magazine comes with a pair of performance socks.
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