WEAR SUNSCREEN…

GOING OVER TO THE DARK SIDE

Sanny and Dene head out on a pre-dawn mission proving that winter shouldn’t be a barrier to fun.

THE SOUTH DOWNS

They say variety is the spice of life – how hot do you like your spice?

Jason MilesTHE HELMET OF UNHAPPINESS

Jason Miles takes a good long look at himself. With his eyes half shut…

LETTING GO AND FINDING FLOW

Amanda takes a few days to ride and decompress in Denmark. Along the way she finds food, friends, trails and adventures, but most of all, she finds balance.

MY GRANDAD’S HEAD IN A JAR

Adam Batty welcomes back a lapsed member of the mountain bike club to enjoy the views.

KEEPING TRACK OF TIME AT THE TRANS-PROVENCE

Tom Hill reflects on the phenomenon that was the Trans-Provence, and his part as a small cog in its machine.

SHIMANO PD M515 SPD PEDALS

Chipps gets soppy about a scratched old pair of pedals from the last century.

MAKING IT UP IN THE LAKE DISTRICT

Nigel Page and Chipps strap on luggage and join forces again. This time to ride a completely made up North/South traverse of the Lake District.

BRITISH STEEL

Three contemporary steel hardtails made by hand in the UK from 18 Bikes, Shand and Stanton. And we mean made, not just assembled.

18 BIKES NO 9

Price: £900.00 (frame only) From: 18 Bikes, 18bikes.co.uk

SHAND SHUG

Price: £995.00 (frame only) From: Shand, shandcycles.com

STANTON SWITCH9ER

Price: £699.00 (frame only) From: Stanton, stantonbikes.com

THE VERDICT

You might want to get your tiny violins ready at this

VERBIER BY TRAIN

Mark and Vic look at a different way of getting to play in the mountains with bikes. By train.

PIZZA-POWERED PASS’PORTES

Emma and Carly show how much fun you can have by being badly prepared and under-equipped in France’s bestknown mountain bike event.

FIVE MINUTES WITH: DAMIEN NOSELLA, PRODUCTION PRIVÉE

Andi catches up with Damien from Production Privée, the enigmatic Andorran bike and component company.

ACCIDENTAL PUNCH UP.

Sometimes alcohol and high spirits can get in the way of a race to the point that some people let themselves down a little. So much so that we’ve toned this one down, to hide the guilty.