Issue 136

Issue 136

£6.45

Got a year to spare? How about you ride 1 million vertical metres. One Everest (8,848m) ascent per week, plus around 3,000m ascent every other. Except Sunday. You can have Sundays off… That was the life of one of our interviewees this month, as Australian rider Jack UltraCyclist took on a mega challenge to raise money for mental health charities. Did he do it? Pick up issue 137 to find out. 

But there’s more. Of course there’s more! Because this month we visit the Algarve in Portugal, famous for its sunshine and custard tarts, less famous for its beautiful climbs, and therefore perfect for a quiet winter-sun getaway. Meanwhile, back in the UK we get the straight dope from the CEO of Britain’s largest bike manufacturer, Brompton’s Will Butler-Adams, who gives us a state of the cycling nation, Covid, climate change, Brexit warts and all. We also lookback at the extraordinary life of Herman Vanspringel, one of Belgium’s most decorated riders, who won Tour stages, one-day Classics and Bordeaux-Paris – that’s 560km in one race folks – an incredible seven times. 

Bikes this month come in the form of the all-new 3T Strada, the enviable Enve Melee, the Scott Addict Gravel and Specialized’s most divisive bike yet, the full-suspension Specialized Diverge STR.