Back of the Netflix

Ned likes what's he's watching in Netflix's much-hyped Tour de France documentary

Boost your ride

Performance Q&A: The big cycling questions answered by our team of expert coaches, nutritionists and riders

BICYCLE OILS

The Painters' Trail in Suffolk promises picturesque views, following in the oily footsteps of Constable and Gainsborough. Is British landscape's soul easelly found?

SRAM Force AXS

Should you upgrade? Here are the top 10 things we've learnt about the new premium groupset, after an in-depth look and plenty of road testing...

BARGAIN GEAR

Looking for cheaper but still high-performing gear? We select our top 20 pieces of wallet-friendly kit to help you enjoy more for less

Trek Émonda ALR 5

This update is still a great alternative to carbon

Tubeless sealant

Gone tubeless? We rate six sealants

Q36.5 outfit

THE STAR OF THE SHOW in this gravel outfit, the stunning bib shorts are shaped superbly with high-density knitted fabric where you need the support (thighs and lower spine) and a high-stretch fabric with strategically placed seams at the inner thighs and crotch area.

Prime Orra

£599 Reassuringly responsive gravel wheels

Parcours Alta

£899 Speedy hoops that are best for smoother surfaces

Quoc Lalashan Gran Tourer XC

£240 Gravel shoes with style and substance

ENVE SES 4.5 wheelset

£3,350 It's a lot of money... but you certainly get a lot

Time ATAC XC6

£75 One of the lightest gravel-ready pedals around

Oakley Encoder Strike

£210 The brand's futuristic one-piece lens gets ventilation

Zipp 858 NSW

£3,570 Zipp's deepest, fastest wheels

Giant Contend AR1

£1,899 Smooth, stable riding made easy

UNCHAINED REACTION

We asked Nick Christian to plant himself in front of the telly and binge-watch all eight episodes of Netflix's new documentary 'Tour de France: Unchained'. Does the long-anticipated show live up to the considerable hype?

Higher Faster Stronger?

His previous cycling book, The Science of the Tour de France, had an elite focus, but now author James Witts has turned the dial onto himself. Could this back-of-the-pack straggler turn himself into a frontrunner at the Étape?

Epic Journeys

Done Land's End-John o'Groats and wondering what next? Serial End to Ender Rob Ainsley (e2e.bike) reveals his favourites

NEXT-LEVEL PERFORMANCE

Up to £4,400 and you're talking serious bike upgrade territory. But can this trio justify your outlay?

The Peloponnese

The appeal of the Peloponnese is hard to overstate. So says our Rough Guide to Greece and, after a long weekend of cycling on the peninsula, we heartily agree.

Street's ahead

Regional mayors are leading the way in enabling cycling infrastructure

Enve MOG

£10,500 Versatile new superbike from the Utah brand high-performance gravel

Paris-Brest-Paris

Cakes, street parties, hallucinations, droopy necks: the world's oldest big cycle event runs again in 2023

Can-do altitude

What is it about riding uphill that keeps luring climbing guru Simon Warren back for more?

ONE GIANT LEAP

After a highly successful inaugural edition of the Tour de France Femmes, race director Marion Rousse says the event has already become a reference point in the women's calendar

INSIDE MAN

From drunk fans and messy roommates to freebies and Paris nightclubs, Ineos Grenadiers rider Connor Swift, a three-time finisher of the Tour de France, reveals the secrets and chaos of the race

Reeled in

How a reel of film from the early 20th century set Ned on a trail of discovery

LAP OF LUXURY

We jump off the south coast of England for a fast, fun loop of the Channel Island of Guernsey

HILL SEEKERS

Madeira has shed its blue-rinse rep to become a hiking, running and mountain-biking honeypot. But for road and gravel? We hit the 40% inclines and levadas to find out...