Cycling Plus

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.

WELCOME… • Issue 418 ● June 2024

The Big Picture

What’s on • The best media, entertainment and events from the cycling world

About time • How cycling latecomer Andrea Parish became Chair of Cycling Time Trials and how she’s trying to open up the sport to all.

Joined-up thinking • A 24-mile West Midlands cycling route is set to transform active travel in the region, writes Laura

Mark Cavendish • Can the Manx Missile finally knock Eddy Merckx off the top spot for Tour de France wins this year?

Route YC

The route

In part one of our annual mega test, we rate the best budget, women’s and commuter bikes around

WALLET-FRIENDLY BIKES • Just what can you expect from a bike that costs around £1,000 these days? We put five contenders through their paces to see which one shone brightest

Vitus Razor Disc VR • £799.99 A solid starter bike at a great price

Pinnacle Laterite 2 • £800 A rim-braked bike that can hold its own

Specialized Allez E5 • £1,000 Entry-level sporty bike

Trek Domane AL 2 Gen 4 • £1,050 A lot of bike for the pricetag

Cube Attain Pro • £1,099 Budget race bike material?

Ebikes • Which of our bikes built for buzzing around town (and maybe beyond) would you go for? We compare the performance and practicality of five exciting models

Cannondale Compact Neo • £2,000 A small bike with big ideas

Ridgeback Arcus 3 • £2,999.99 A go-anywhere capable commuter

Merida eSpresso CC 675 EQ • £4,000 Shimano-powered bike offering rugged comfort

Tern NBD S5i • £4,000 Practical urban runaround for carting kids and more

Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0 EQ • £3,400 Slick, smooth and speedy suburban ride

Beyond gender? • Women’s-specific bikes are few and far between these days, but why is that? We investigate…

Women’s wheels • Three female-friendly bikes to consider

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME? • Whether you’re a new or experienced cyclist, you’ll never forget an amazing first-time adventure. From debut gravel races to inaugural bikepacking trips, we asked riders to share insights from their first experiences to inspire you to plot your own novel adventures this year

Sportive • ANDREW WEBB, 56, OXFORD

Gravel race • PHIL PATERSON, 41, LONDON

100km ride • DEBBIE GUNSON, 57, FOREST OF DEAN

Bikepacking trip • WILLIAM BIBBY, 59, OXFORD

Stage race • JOSHUA COULLING, 30, NEWBURY

CHASING YESTERDAY • Like vinyl and mullets, the retro stylings of the season-opening reliability ride continue to endure, with some very modern flourishes. John Whitney takes on Droitwich CC’s 2024 event

HISTORY REPEATING • Three icons of cycling’s past still delighting the faithful

POW€R PLAY • The influence of Middle Eastern money on professional cycling is reshaping the sport, shifting its centre of gravity and leading to accusations of sports washing. Andy McGrath asks what all this means, why it matters and whether we should be wary?

The Middle East and pro cycling A timeline

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE • Britain’s best-selling cycling magazine will come through your letterbox as if by magic every month if you become...