Bike blog | The Guardian – Tagged "Cycling Holidays"

Cycling, Cycling holidays, Environment, Life and style - July 2, 2021

Bikepacking and gravel bikes: new concepts in off-road cycling, or marketing fad?

A four-day loop around the King Alfred’s Way gave ample time to test the claims of faster speeds and greater off-road ease

The world of leisure cycling is nothing if not inventive when it comes to ways to sell bikes and associated bits of kit, and two of the most popular new – or theoretically new – concepts are bikepacking and gravel bikes.

As with all such ideas there is the inevitable marketing guff, but both are nonetheless interesting, if sometimes misunderstood. Earlier this week, on trend as ever, I managed both, with a four-day ride around the King Alfred’s Way, a 218-mile primarily off-road loop through the lanes, tracks, woods and ridges of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

Bikepacking and gravel bikes: new concepts in off-road cycling, or marketing fad?

A four-day loop around the King Alfred’s Way gave ample time to test the claims of faster speeds and greater off-road ease

The world of leisure cycling is nothing if not inventive when it comes to ways to sell bikes and associated bits of kit, and two of the most popular new – or theoretically new – concepts are bikepacking and gravel bikes.

As with all such ideas there is the inevitable marketing guff, but both are nonetheless interesting, if sometimes misunderstood. Earlier this week, on trend as ever, I managed both, with a four-day ride around the King Alfred’s Way, a 218-mile primarily off-road loop through the lanes, tracks, woods and ridges of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

How to take a cycling holiday this year despite the pandemic

From guided tours to maps and insurance, we have all the advice you need to have a successful cycling trip

Pandemic pedalling might have kept you fit and sane during lockdown, but if you’ve seen enough of your local lanes to last a lifetime, this summer could be the perfect time to spread your cycling wings. There’s a big wide world out there, but with travel bans likely to remain in place for many of the far-flung destinations that usually attract bicycling Brits, the safest and most accessible trips will be in the UK and mainland Europe.

How to take a cycling holiday this year despite the pandemic

From guided tours to maps and insurance, we have all the advice you need to have a successful cycling trip

Pandemic pedalling might have kept you fit and sane during lockdown, but if you’ve seen enough of your local lanes to last a lifetime, this summer could be the perfect time to spread your cycling wings. There’s a big wide world out there, but with travel bans likely to remain in place for many of the far-flung destinations that usually attract bicycling Brits, the safest and most accessible trips will be in the UK and mainland Europe.

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Bikepacking and gravel bikes: new concepts in off-road cycling, or marketing fad?

Bikepacking and gravel bikes: new concepts in off-road cycling, or marketing fad?

How to take a cycling holiday this year despite the pandemic

How to take a cycling holiday this year despite the pandemic

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