LATEST NEWS - LATEST NEWS - LATEST NEWS
Tom Pidcock wins a first ever British World Cyclocross title Living up to the hype Tom Pidcock duly delivered, taking on the entire Belgian team and winning handsomely in Arkansas to become Britain's first ever men's elite World Cyclocross Champion. He even had time for a slightly unorthodox finish!
British Cycling HQ relocates to Derby British Cycling are relocating the Olympic Development programme to Derby for 7 months whilst the National Cycling Centre in Manchester undergoes a refurbishment
Watch Lachlan Morton's solo Tour de France Back in July whilst the pro-peloton were making their way round France Lachlan Morton rode his very own solo Tour. This is the story
Danny MacAskill 's take on COP26 As COP26 is just round the corner Danny MacAskill has been back on his bike to highlight the need for renewable energy with yet more off the ball bike stunts
Cycling: What's It All About?
The things people do for fun are both varied and rewarding. Some people like to read, some go in for watching football matches, some enjoy a potter in the garden, and many like to get out on the hills. Well, I have to say I enjoy all of the above. But I also get a lot of fun out of cycling.
Cycling is often thought of as a bit of a niche sport, not many people do it, fewer still actually do it competitively. Well, how wrong you are. It is unequivocally one of the fastest growing leisure activities in the UK and more and more people are having a go. Awareness of the sport has grown exponentially in the last 13 years or so since the Beijing Olympics and with British riders now prominent at races like the Tour de France many feel inspired to get out and have a go.There are many different ways you can get involved. Kids (of all ages) might well go for mountain biking or BMX. Touring is a fantastic way to explore our countryside from the north of Scotland to England's south coast, or even better the big mountains of France and Italy.
For something a bit different why not try grass-track riding, or, for some real excitement, riding your local velodrome track. When it comes to track cycling, here in Britain we have led the world for many years now, although the gap has closed. Team GB's recent success on the track has inspired many a young rider and the depth of talent in this country is amazing. Britain's Team Ineos may be cycling's answer to Manchester United, but they have proved remarkably effective at carving out continued success in the big Tours over the last 8 years. British riders perform at world level across the global peloton, and we continue to unearth new talent. The Tour de Yorkshire is now an annual fixture on the world calendar, the UK hosted the World Championships in Yorkshire in 2019. There are issues, admittedly, and the UCI, the sport's world body, have their work cut out trying to rise above political infighting. The pro scene is nothing if not interesting!
Over the last 20 years, the popularity of cycle sportives has grown massively and it is often possible to ride these events pretty much all year round. For the uninitiated, these are semi-competitive day rides which tend to include a few (?) challenging hills such as the Bealach na Ba (Google it!). We even have perhaps THE classic UK sportive in Cumbria, the Fred Whitton Challenge, and a real challenge it is too. And these events are not just a British phenomenon, there are hundreds of such events the world over - an amazing way to see a different part of the world. And if you feel really competitive there is always road racing, time trialling and cyclocross. I have to say I have enjoyed all of the above, although I adopt a more sedate cycling style these days, concentrating more on the where and wow than the performance. But that really is what cycling is all about. A bit of everything, but most important it's about having fun.Each year I keep a diary of my riding and associated cycling thoughts which are included as a blog on these pages, 2020 was no exception, and yet again this will continue through 2022. After 2020 and the outbreak of the Covid pandemic the world has become a very different place. Yet again in 2021 all my foreign trips were on hold but I am optimistic that we may get the chance for foreign travel in 2022 and my much anticipated tilt at LEJOG is scheduled for August. In the meantime at least we can continue to get out there and ride and, for many, this has been a real godsend. Whilst 2022 may not see a return to normal that many of us crave, at least we can look forward with some optimism. After all, cycling has so much to offer. Keep on riding.
Hopefully, my website will inspire, motivate or interest you enough to have a go if you don't already. And if you are lucky enough to live in Cumbria why not try riding some of our wonderful (steep) Lake District hills, or head into the remote and quiet Scottish Borders, or simply stretch your legs along the glorious Solway coast. You too can enjoy scenery like this, whatever the weather!Join a club
Not sure where to start? Are you a club member? If not, why not join your local club? In the North West there are a number cycling clubs who will welcome you with open arms. To find your local club try the British Cycling website, which offers all sorts of useful advice. Or, if you prefer, why not check out what Cycling UK (the CTC as was) has to offer. They have a great network of local affiliated groups, our own in North Wales and Chester is always active.This site is a bit of an indulgence but I will make no apologies. I don't think I'm an anorak (better ask my friends about that) and I have purposely tried to avoid the technical jargon which many cyclists seem so keen on using in casual conversation.
Feel free to have a wander through the menu links on the left at the top of the page, hopefully there will be something there of interest. But, if nothing else, get yer bike out and get riding.... today!