BIKE Magazine

September has always felt like cycling's month of reflection and renewal. The biggest races of the season are reaching their conclusions, riders are carrying the accumulated fatigue of a long campaign, and many of us are looking ahead to our own autumn adventures. It is a time when cycling reveals its extraordinary range, from the world's grandest sporting stages to the quiet lanes and gravel tracks that keep us all coming back for another ride.
This issue captures that diversity better than any I can remember.
The road season reaches one of its defining moments with the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montréal, where more than 1,000 athletes from over 80 nations will compete for cycling's most coveted rainbow jerseys. The city returns to the centre of the cycling world more than half a century after hosting the first World Championships ever held outside Europe. As we look ahead to the racing on the demanding Mount Royal circuit, we explore the events and storylines that will shape a remarkable month for the sport.
Closer to home, the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men 2026 once again brings elite racing directly to British roads. From the cobbled climb of Michaelgate in Lincoln to the rolling terrain of the Scottish Borders, the race reminds us that some of cycling's greatest spectacles remain free to watch from the roadside.
Yet cycling is about far more than professional competition. One theme running through this issue is exploration. Our feature on the FVG Bike Trail in north-eastern Italy celebrates the growing appeal of self-supported riding, where success is measured not by finishing position but by experiences collected along the way. The route through Friuli Venezia Giulia combines challenging riding, remarkable history and unforgettable regional food, reminding us that a bicycle remains one of the most rewarding ways to understand a place.
Adventure continues in Nepal, where mountain biking becomes a gateway to Himalayan landscapes, ancient mo