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.

Ed’s letter

The Big Picture

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

Hill Climb season • This end-of-season period of torture is looked forward to only by a certain type of cyclist

PEDAL-O-METER • WHAT’S SPINNING ALONG AT SPEED AND WHAT’S CRASHING OUT THIS MONTH?

Something in the air? • USADA’s Laura Lewis on the carbon-monoxide rebreathing method that’s stirred controversy in the WorldTour ranks

Sonder El Camino Apex 1 Hydraulic • £2,999 The British brand enters the e-gravel bike market, giving you a subtle boost

Green shoots • Laura joins the great and good of British cycling on a ride from Manchester to Paris to show how the bike, in all its forms, has a key role in tackling the climate crisis

Snowdonia

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…

Need to know •  Find out what to expect from these endurance-flavoured flyers all decked out with Shimano’s newest 105 groupset

Bike tech explained • Your quickfire guide to bike jargon

Bikes on test •  Which of this trio would you like to have in your garage?

Merida Scultura Endurance 4000 • £2,250 German-designed, distance-friendly all-rounder at a good price

Basso Venta R • £2,699 Italian style and endurance with a pretty racy edge

Specialized Roubaix SL8 Sport 105 •  £3,000 Endurance machine with comfort-boosting front suspension

Specialized Roubaix SL8 Sport 105 •  Its exceptional comfort delivers a supreme performance and unrivalled versatility

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…

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

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

RIDER OF THE YEAR 2024 • IT’S TIME TO VOTE FOR THE CYCLISTS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED THE MOST TO THE SPORT IN 2024

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE • Britain’s best-selling cycling magazine will come through your letterbox as if by magic every month if you become a subscriber. And it’s much cheaper than buying it in the shops. It’s a win-win!

Ridden & Rated • The UK’s best tests for over 30 years

Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0 • £6,499 The women’s-specific race bike is faster than ever

Coros Dura • £249 Huge-batteried solar GPS bike computer

Sports bras • £39.99 – £60 Which one gives the best fit, comfort and on-bike support?

BIKE LOCKS • What’s the toughest portable bike lock you can buy? We head to Abus’ test lab in Germany to put eight to the test

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

FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE • We...