Feeling adventurous? Why not tackle one of the National Cycle Network’s flagship routes, such as the Way of the Roses. Ideal for a long weekend, this signed, 170-mile coast-to-coast ride from Morecambe to Bridlington meanders through York and Lancaster, taking in the Lune Valley and Yorkshire’s famous Dales and Wolds via a mix of bike-friendly paths and quiet roads. Suitable for an all-rounder such as a Boardman CX Team or MX Sport.
Summer’s silly season brings an increasing number of nocturnal rides, like the Dunwich Dynamo – a free-to-enter, semi-organised sortie from Hackney to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast. This year’s 120-mile cruise along country lanes silvered by moonlight, rolls out on 16 July. This is one to train for, ideal for a fast bike such as a Boardman Road Team Carbon or a lean all-rounder in the mould of Boardman CX Team.
The Exmouth Exodus is another one to charge up your lights for. Sallying forth from the ancient city of Bath, you’ll be enjoying sunrise from the saddle on the beach at Exmouth 100 moonlit miles later. Once again, a suitable ride for either a Boardman Road Team Carbon or Boardman CX Team.
The Tour de France’s recent sojourn to Yorkshire brought the region’s roadies out in force. Another chance to ride the same routes as the pros comes this year with the Tour de Yorkshire (29 April-1 May). The stage maps are all online now, so you can take the whole route on or target a specific challenge, like the thigh-burning climbs of Grenhow Hill and Grosmont, ideal for pushing performance bikes like the Boardman Road Team Carbon to their limits.
For northern exposure, try Sustrans’ Coasts and Castles South route, an epic 200-miler best enjoyed over a long weekend. Linking the Forth and Tyne estuaries, it passes several mighty castles and mile upon mile of windswept coastline along the way – perfect for putting an all-day bike like the Boardman Road Pro Carbon through its paces.
Building more miles into your commute is a great way of bookending the daily grind with endorphins. Your options may be limited by geography, but it’s worth scouting out cycle-friendly detours to make your A to B more fun. The Canal and River Trust’s towpaths offer 2,000 miles of traffic-free cycling, for example – much of it through beautiful countryside or evocative industrial heritage. For Londoners, canals, including the Grand Union and its various arms, can take you all the way from Slough in the west to Stratford in the east.
Another much-loved route that has become a firm favourite with bike commuters is the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, linking the two cities via 13 miles of leafy, traffic-free riding. Ride on from Bath to meet the adjoining Two Tunnels Greenway and double your distance with a scenic loop to Midford through the mile-long Combe Down tunnel and back again via the Kennet and Avon towpath. In terms of bike choice, towpaths are great for hybrid bikes like Boardman’s Hybrid Pro or Mx Sport.
Across 55 miles of southern Wales, the Taff Trail connects Cardiff to Brecon, passing castles, waterfalls and slumbering mountains along the way – many Cardiffians use its southern reaches for a cycle-friendly commute. If you make it to Brecon and need more miles, NCN Route 8 will take you further north, on into the rugged heart of Wales. The trail’s mixed terrain makes it ideal for a cross bike such as the Boardman CX Team.
Audax is Latin for “daring”. It’s also the name of the Long Distance Cyclists’ Association, which organises a year-round roster of scenic rides all over the country, from entry-level 30 mile jollies like Brazier’s Run (Feb 21) to frankly masochistic 600km mettle-testers like the Brian Chapman Memorial Classic (May 14). Many are an approachable 60 or 120 miles, with the emphasis on scenery rather than speed, and there’s always plenty of cake. Audax’s long days are best ridden out on a bike that eats miles easily, like the Boardman MX Sport, CX Team or Road Team Carbon.
For mud lovers, Bike Park Wales has a network of downhill and lift-assisted single-track trails that careen down the flanks of a mountain called Mynydd Gethin – perfect for putting a Boardman Mountain Bike Pro Full Suspension through its paces. Expect beefy bermed runs, technical rock sections and skills-graded trails with names like Vicious Valley, Rim Dinger and Willy Waver.
