Gravel Cycling is brought to you by the UK's best selling cycling magazine, Cycling Plus. Inside you'll find gravel bikes for all budgets, skills to tame any terrain plus the best places to ride in the UK! Our Gravel experts have also reviewed the latest equipment and must haves for your off road adventure. Once you've read this, you'll be ready to get out there!
Gravel Cycling 2021
Welcome
YORKSHIRE DALES
HIGHLANDS
LOCH NESS
GRAVEL BASICS
Adventure Addicts • We look at how gravel riding became firmly established as a fixture in the cycling community, speak to the people leading the charge and show why you should give it a go…
ANATOMY OF A GRAVEL BIKE • Despite surface similarities to road machines, gravel bikes have plenty of subtle differences
A-Z of Adventure • Endurance record breaker and author Sean Conway reveals his manifesto for adventure
Skills and Thrills • Sharpen your gravel dexterity with a masterclass from former British cyclocross champion Nick Craig. Learn the essential techniques and strategies for a smooth transition from tarmac to trails…
Into The Wild • Once again, we hook up with former British cyclocross champion Nick Craig in his Peak District playground to discover everything a roadie should know for their first gravel adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure • Adventurer and author Jenny Tough shows you how to make your first long-distance cycle trip
FAVOURITE BRITISH ADVENTURES • There’s no need to pack up your bike and go through the trouble of flying – the UK has some of the best adventure cycling routes in the world. Here are some of my favourites:
GRAVEL ADVENTURES
Wilderness Weekend • Heading off the beaten track for two days is the perfect head-cleanser. And there’s no more invigorating breath of fresh air than in Wales’ Cambrian Mountains
High Rollers • After his exploits in Wales’ Cambrian Mountains, road-rider-cum-gravel convert Adrian Miles reaches off-road nirvana deep in the Scottish Highlands
Wild Wild World • Confirmed roadie Sam Dansie heads onto the gravel for the first time. The fact that it’s at the country’s toughest gravel event, the Dirty Reiver, complicates matters…
Great Outdoors • The United Kingdom is blessed with numerous gravel playgrounds for you to try out your new found off-road skills…
London to Brighton • A memorable ride. But will you have the energy to ride back?
Trossachs • A mainly off-road Scottish adventure
North York Moors • A day’s gravel in God’s own country
Ridgeway • A ride upon England’s oldest road
Peak District • Good gearing and sheep avoidance are key on this ride
BIKES
CARBON CRUSADERS • Interest in gravel bikes has intensified further since Covid struck as home-based adventures soared. Here are four do-it-all contenders to satisfy your off-roading, road riding and bikepacking dreams
METAL MILITIA • Gravel bikes aren’t solely molded from layers of carbon. Cue a quartet of versatile and durable bikes that are forged from steel and aluminium
BIVIBIKES GRAVELLER • Off-road prowess make this a great gravel option
RAGLEY TRIG • An exciting blend of mountain-bike design and road-bike speed
VITUS SUBSTANCE SRS 1 • An excellent package where the quality frame is the star
FELT BREED 20 • Nimble yet stable-handing, smartly designed gravel machine
HIGH-VOLTAGE VELOCITY • Electric gravel bikes are proving increasingly popular, helping you to expand your riding horizons, but should Cairn or Cannondale be on your riding wish list? Let’s find out…
CANNONDALE TOPSTONE NEO CARBON LEFTY 1 • Big power; big range; big fun
CAIRN E-ADVENTURE 1.0...