![I'LL TAKE THE LOW ROAD](https://cdn.magzter.com/1387286292/1708523631/articles/c2gR4q_991709030005956/ILL-TAKE-THE-LOW-ROAD.jpg)
As I climb slowly out of bed my thoughts immediately turn to my shoes. Are they dry? The previous evening, the first thing I did after checking into our hotel in Langholm, tired, wet and dirty, was get in the shower and thoroughly wash my once-pristine white shoes. Covered in grime and soaked through, I got them sparkling clean before I turned the soap on myself. I’d smuggled some thick paper hand towels out of a cafe earlier in the day, knowing I’d need to stuff them in my shoes overnight. I can’t start a ride with wet shoes. I just can’t. So in that cafe, even before I was halfway through day one, my thoughts had leapt forward to the start of day two.
The towels and heated towel rail had worked their magic. My shoes were clean and dry, and with fresh kit laid out, I instantly felt more positive about the 100 or so miles that lay ahead. A quick breakfast and we were soon getting the bike out of the back of the car. It was raining. Hard. In fact it had been raining most of the night, and water was streaming across the roads.
Two minutes later, on a quick circle of the town to navigate the one-way system, I’ve picked up the route on my Wahoo head unit. I find myself riding past the front of our warm, dry hotel. Mile zero and my shoes and socks are drenched. Completely soaked through. Ah well, it was nice while it lasted. Let’s get going.
A wet welcome
Esta historia es de la edición February 22, 2024 de Cycling Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 22, 2024 de Cycling Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
![Look KG 241](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/aGj4eUlTs1717755447910/LOOK-KG-241.jpg)
Look KG 241
Handmade French carbon from the 1990s' biggest innovators
![LET'S TALK ABOUT...DEPRESSION](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/DQqvSp8c31717754969198/LETS-TALK-ABOUTDEPRESSION.jpg)
LET'S TALK ABOUT...DEPRESSION
Rates of depression have risen dramatically since the pandemic and cyclists aren't immune, as Chris Marshall-Bell finds out
![TILTING AT TOWERS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/w6Yt8Ixf51717754414222/TILTING-AT-TOWERS.jpg)
TILTING AT TOWERS
Faced with a daunting weather forecast, Tom Davidson takes on Alice Towers’s favourite training loop and learns how block headwinds forge champions
![RACE BIKE OF THE YEAR 2024](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/EFepsHmVW1717753210415/RACE-BIKE-OF-THE-YEAR-2024.jpg)
RACE BIKE OF THE YEAR 2024
Cycling Weekly crowns its ultimate king of the road
![THE HUB](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/KJMqEoa8J1717753055220/THE-HUB.jpg)
THE HUB
All the news you might have missed from the last seven days
![JACOB TIPPER - Are armchair experts any good?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/0z-CmEgn_1717752948901/JACOB-TIPPER-ARE-ARMCHAIR-EXPERTS-ANY-GOOD.jpg)
JACOB TIPPER - Are armchair experts any good?
In recent years, the world of professional cycling has seen the rise of a new type of enthusiast: the armchair cycling fan or Twitter expert.
![Tour de Suisse - 9-16 June Switzerland](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/h2B0cuxPa1717752636103/TOUR-DE-SUISSE-916-JUNE-SWITZERLAND.jpg)
Tour de Suisse - 9-16 June Switzerland
A year on from Gino Mäder’s tragic death at the race, the Tour de Suisse returns to the calendar with poignant tributes to the Swiss rider.
![WorldTour stars find Unbound Gravel a struggle](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/A1HNNbQys1717752343238/WORLDTOUR-STARS-FIND-UNBOUND-GRAVEL-A-STRUGGLE.jpg)
WorldTour stars find Unbound Gravel a struggle
Matej Mohorič might be the gravel world champion, but he was unable to complete gravel's biggest race last weekend
![Tour of Britain Women - 6-9 June](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/6zkdO1Ff61717752245460/TOUR-OF-BRITAIN-WOMEN-69-JUNE.jpg)
Tour of Britain Women - 6-9 June
After months of doubt over whether it would take place, the Tour of Britain Women gets underway in Welshpool, Powys, this afternoon.
![Pidcock: all in on the Olympics](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5175/1724256/vYSDJoQEA1717752051004/PIDCOCK-ALL-IN-ON-THE-OLYMPICS.jpg)
Pidcock: all in on the Olympics
Tom Pidcock tells Tom Thewlis he is fully focused on gold in Paris this summer