If your wanting to kick start your New Year’s fitness resolutions, there’s no time like the present! 

Cycle your way to fitness with a number of fantastic discounts in store.

50% off all 2011 bikes

20% off all 2012 bikes

30% off all clothing

Huge discounts on accessories

Half price servicing until February 2012

Come down to our SALE fun day on Sunday 29th January, 10am – 4pm.

Fun for all the family, delicious curry and Nann breads, treats for the kids, selection of drinks, cycling give-aways and competitions… NOT TO BE MISSED!

First 50 visitors receive a VIP Gold Card, offering fantastic discounts and all visitors receive a VIP 2012 loyalty card.

Snookered. Check mate. Game over. I sat in the pub stunned, motionless and silent but fizzing inside with frustration, something akin to anger, and new emotions I had never felt before. I NEVER QUIT. This was unchartered territory. It was the bitterest pill and it was stuck in my throat.

The room was full of well healed polite humanity enjoying a cosy Sunday as the rain lashed hard against the windows. Around the peripheral of my thousand yard stare I sensed people looking at me in a puzzled, slightly uncomfortable manner, trying not to catch my eye.

I did my best to avoid any conversation starter. A slightly intrigued couple repeatedly smiled, perhaps keen to elicit why or how I had came to be there, alone, hollow faced, dressed funny, and with glazed vacant eyes.  Angry with myself, I had no desire to recount the conversation stopping escapade nor reconsider the incident pit that had so suddenly opened up to end play.

One more hill. Some easy miles on lanes and leisure paths. That’s all that was left. All it would take to complete this massive task. This was meant to be the warm down, the final march home after the hardest graft had been done.

Stepping out to the van, I started shaking uncontrollably as the elements battered me one last time. The shock of the cold and the rain confirmed what I already knew; I had made the right decision.  I had been left with no option but to end my attempt on the West Highland Way Double at the eleventh hour. The disappointment was almost unbearable but broken I was not. It’s the journey that matters.

It was an incredible ride. Triumph and tragedy. Extreme joy and deep despair. Effortless progress and torturous shackles…

To find out what transpired on this intense 28hr journey make sure you get your hands on a copy of Privateer in December:

http://www.rouleur.cc/privateer

There will be loads of info on the route as well as my ride. In addition there will be superb photos from M Steel’s own Gordon Harrison.

M Steels Cycles are stockists of Privateer.

I know traditionally you’re supposed to thank supporters and sponsors at the end of these types of self reflective monologues but I wanted to get those in early whilst people are still reading as they are really important to me, this wasn’t a solo challenge:

Firstly and most importantly to my other half Sarah who turned into organiser/admin extraordinaire for this whole thing, I definitely owe you a few trips to see chick flicks at the cinema…
Supporters on the day:
Kev- Bike support 1/physio
Chief- Bike support 2
Mum, Diana- cheerleader 1
Sister, Louise- cheerleader 2
Rich (STAT0)- photo’s
Pete (Judge)- mapping and comms
Han- cheerleader 3/final mile run support
Chazza- cheerleader 4/final mile run support

The people who made it possible:
Hazel and Pete and all the guys at the Calvert Trust
Alex Mac and all the guys at the Forestry Commission and Northumbria Water
My Sponsors:
Bruichladdich Whisky- fuelling the adventure!
M Steels Cycles- keeping my bike going
Exposure Lights- keeping me lit on the run
Purple Mountain- great kielder based support shop
Perro- design and consultancy for press releases and media

So here’s the monologue bit, I’ll try and keep it to the point!
Kielder 100
One thing tells the story, of the 800 entrants to the race only 177 finished! The weather on the day was terrible, it rained non stop from start (6.30am) to finish which when you’re out for hours isn’t fun. I started near the front and managed to stay in roughly the same place throughout the race despite a puncture and some other minor problems (including missing a water station). I felt particularly horrid and had some real lows between 40-60 miles and was really concerned that I wasn’t going to be able to hold a decent pace to set up the rest of the challenge, energy gels particularly helped me through when my stomach was churning, thanks Science in Sport! It really was a case of head down and get on with it, hoping that I wouldn’t have a bike or body mechanical cutting the challenge short. Somehow I got lucky and even didn’t have to change brake pads at all (most people changed at least once).

Start line

I rolled over the finish line in 10hours 42mins, very relieved to have made it through unscathed. Ben Thomas took the win in 8 hours but I’d like to give a special mention to Rich Rothwell and Ant White, both vets, both still tearing it up at the top of the field coming 5th and 6th respectively.

finish line

Kayak Kielder
After stuffing some pasta down me, some chocolate and salt and vinegar crisps (great for staving off cramp) I jumped in to the kayak and was delighted to find that although it was still raining the lake was like a pancake, hurray! This meant I could take the most direct route and made it to the finish at Tower Knowe in around 50minutes. I was greeted by what felt like a massive crowd and supporters from the sailing club based there were going wild, hooting boat horns and everything, brilliant, what a boost, although I did feel a bit embarrassed that I couldn’t really acknowledge people properly at first as I had suffered quite badly from stiffening up and cramp in the kayak and had to jump out as quickly as possible to stretch.

Kayaking Kielder Water

Kielder Marathon
After a quick shower, some more food, a quiet word with myself and some last minute bag packing for the support bike with trailer it was back out to start the Kielder Marathon. Probably the highlight of the whole thing was seeing a big group of Calvert Trust guests come out to see me off, they had made signs and everything, it was raining really hard and they had been waiting for me whilst I got myself sorted inside, a real motivator.

Setting off for marathon

Fortunately there was still a bit of light for the first hour of the run where I was followed by Kev and Chief on bikes, handing me bottles and food on cue, thanks guys. Once darkness fell (and it gets properly dark at Kielder) on went the Exposure Lights to turn night in to day which really helped me keep focused on the at times twisty and certainly hilly trail. This really helped keep up a fairly consistent pace throughout and I used the steep hills as a chance to have a rest and take on water and energy gels by walking up.

Night runner

Other support crew were following in a 4×4 on the nearby forest roads and this helped with motivation as I saw them at least once a hour and even got a Mexican wave at one point, ace.
For the last mile or so I was joined by a couple of other runners and Sarah on the bike, the legs were like jelly at this point, that typical comical hip swaying run you see at the end of marathons on tv. Nevertheless with about 500m to go the call came in that if I could manage a sprint finish I would break the 5 hour mark, those who know me will tell you I see everything as a race, and although I was clearly going to be on the podium for Killer Kielder this didn’t stop me finding some strength from somewhere to sprint to the end and then literally fall over the finish tape, exhausted but satisfied. I was handed my first drink in 6 months which I managed to get some down before feeling a bit ill on finishing at 12.45am Sunday morning.

Finish line

Didn’t really get much sleep that night and felt really ill the next morning, a sort of hungover, breathless feeling that slowly faded through the day and I was able to start the recovery eating. The body was aching but nothing major, truly amazing and I feel very lucky to have got through so well.

So although I’ve done a fair amount of training for all this I really stand my assertion at the outset, that it’s all about mind over matter. I found this out when doing the Kielder Marathon last year without any specific training other than my mtb fitness, realising that I was somehow able to push myself beyond what my fitness level alone would allow. So get out there and set yourself a challenge that is unthinkable for a good cause, mentally prepare yourself and then the rest will fall in to place.
My garmin output from the whole thing, think there’s a few errors with signal problems but you get the general idea http://connect.garmin.com/activity/112301728 . It also is set to bike mode so massive underestimation of calories on kayak and run.
I’m sure there are so many people/things I’ve left unmentioned and unsaid, for that I apologise but you know who you are.
My final plug for sponsorship for a great cause, www.justgiving.com/killerkielderchallenge look for pics and more updates on www.killerkielder.co.uk and @killerkielder
Time to drink beer and eat pizza.
Matt

I was also well rested, confident in my kit, and very focused. I felt calm despite a stacked field. Friday night came and I hooked up with Ant and did the usual “I thought my bike was perfectly ready but it still needs an hour of faff” ritual. After a bit of social catch up we then headed to the Calvert Trust for the night along with, amongst others, Andy McClure from Steels who was also riding the next day. Matt Jones had very kindly fitted us in to his Killer Kielder challenge HQ and it was a great relief to have a warm bed before the Kielder 100 as opposed to the usual midge infested / blokes farting all night in the next door tent / cold damp experience that typified the first two years. (Matt is still collecting after completing his epic challenge – for more info go to http://www.justgiving.com/killerkielderchallenge The Calvert Trust is a very worthy cause and do some fantastic work at Kielder).

Anywho, after a good few hours kip, we were up at 4:30…. Grim death. Muesli was forced down protesting throats and super strength coffee created a weak pulse. This is always the hardest part of the Kielder 100…

On the start line the atmosphere was the usual gallows humour as the misty rain seeped to the skin and the midgies nibbled… I caught up with Andy Fellows (Ay-up lights) from Oz who I’d met at 24hr Worlds in Canada. He was probably wondering how he’d ended up in this awful predicament… Dan Treby (Singular) was his usual chipper self (little damps his enthusiasm) and the front rows were full of numerous strong riders including last year’s winner Andrew Cockburn and the pre-race favourite Ben Thomas… And of course competing with Ant (Cannondale / Mt Zoom) in the Vets was always going to be a big ask… This was going to be a tough race.

Off we went. After the long lead out a very big group formed. Mud and grit flew everywhere. In seconds my glasses were caked and I had to suddenly whip them off to avoid running into the next rider. Things calmed slightly and the group lined out.

A short while after we hit a climb. I sensed this was a key moment. One of the guys in front of me was struggling a bit with the pace. Suddenly the front riders ahead of him (including many of the favourites) sprung a substantial gap. Right, split second decision – I jumped out from behind the slowing rider and redlined it. This was the break and I had to make it. A minute or so later I’d bridged the gap and looked back to see only one other rider had come with me. My competition in the Vets class (Ant / Mark Spratt / Adrian Laurence) hadn’t jumped the gap. This was good.

We tanked along working well as a group – sometimes one line, sometimes two but all he while I could feel we were pulling along well. So it continued. Twinges of cramp meant I had to ease of a bit and yo-yoed of the back once or twice. Mechanicals and feed station stops disrupted the group somewhat but a core of eight or so remained.

This gradually broke up further. Andy F dropped off. Andrew C had mechanical problems. Greig Brown punctured. Mike Blewitt had a comedy moment down a grass slope when his brakes totally failed and he had to throw himself off his bike! He saw the funny side though!

Then suddenly I was on my own. Weird. Just can’t really remember what happened! I knew that 4 riders were ahead of me. And not by much. Heading into to Newcastleton I felt great.

Everyone will have had a ‘bad bit’ / mechanical issue (I had given up on worrying about my brakeless / squidgy tyred bike by now) that lost them time. Mine happened in the Newcastleton trails…. Suddenly the world just started spinning. Noooo! I hadn’t eaten in a while and I seriously bonked. Like I just couldn’t push the pedals. At all. I stopped and downed 2 gels / 1 caffeine gel / half a pint of drink. Bugger! It was going to take a good 15 mins for this to kick in. I limped on and finally rejuvenated but I was conscious i’d made a mistake I could be punished for…

Normal service resumed. But then at Lewisburn Tom Stewart (Doncaster Wheelers) flew past me. I had no reply and decided to not  risk trying as I had no food left for the last testing climbs. I just wanted to make sure Ant didn’t catch me…. Surely he won’t?…

I’d seen a dark figure at the bottom of a long climb a bit earlier on and for some reason thought it was Andrew C…. On the final climbs I looked again. Balls! The distinctive, “I can smell your blood” head bobbing meant only one thing… it was Ant! 

I rode the last two climbs on pure adrenalin. The big descents were super sketchy with virtually no stopping power… Just Don’t Crash!!!! To my great suprise I didn’t! Hurrah! Ant rolled in 40 seconds later. Over 100 ‘eventful’ miles. What an epic race! Giles Drake came in 4 minutes ahead of me and apparently crossed the line and threw up! He went on to race xc the next day! Respect! And what a superbly controlled ride by Ben Thomas – he was in a different class.

I’d won the Vets and placed 5th overall. I’m not going to lie – this was a major result for me in a very strong field. A slight change in focus has paid off and I’m really keen to do more 6 to 8 hour events… Come on race organisers!!!

Ant was the first person to shake my hand. He is a true gent and has been a massive inspiration to me (and countless others no doubt) over the last few years. He has selflessly shared many of his ‘racer’s tricks’ and his sheer do or die approach means he never gives in. This is why, over the last few years, he’s racked up a results sheet that most of us can only dream of.

It’s a real shame one of us had to come in second. I’m just glad that this time, it wasn’t me ; )

Members of the Young Entrepreneurs Trust are taking on a challenge of a more physical nature this month, with a coast to coast bike ride on Hadrian’s cycleway. As the name suggests, this route follows much of the length of famous Northern landmark Hadrian’s Wall, once the most heavily fortified border the Roman Empire, now an important heritage site. Their journey begins at Glannaventa, the remnants of an important Roman naval base located in the small village of Ravenglass in Cumbria. They will complete the trip at Arbeia, a large Roman fort in South Shields, once the maritime supply route for Hadrian’s Wall itself. The team of nine, five members of the young entrepreneurs and four friends, will cycle a daunting total of 174 miles over five days, all to raise money for the Northern branch of famous children’s charity, The Variety Club, which supports sick, disabled and disadvantaged children throughout the region. The ride begins on the 13th of August, and is due to be completed on the 17th.

The cyclists have been training hard, but their trusty wheeled steeds also need to be in tip-top shape for the expedition, so they are lucky enough to benefit from the expert support provided by M Steels cycles, Gosforth. The shop will loan the group two hybrid cycles, bikes which are specifically designed to combine the best elements of mountain bikes, tourers and racing cycles and are perfect for leisure riding and longer treks like this one. The other six cycles that will be taken on the ride are to be checked and serviced by M Steels completely free of charge. But it doesn’t stop there- to ensure every rider is correctly kitted out for the journey the store will also provide a generous 20% discount off before their trip. And just to help the group look the part, they will receive eight free logoed t-shirts to don for photos before the off, and then wear as required on the ride itself.

Will Ryles, member of the Young Entrepreneur Trust says:

“We’re all looking forward to the trip over this beautiful area, and we’ve been riding regularly to get fit for the distance. It’s actually been a lot of fun and I think some of us will be cycling a lot more regularly in future! We’re really grateful to M Steels for their help and support on this trip as they have made the planning and preparation so much easier.”

Joe Waugh, from M. Steel Cycles responded:

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to support the Young Entrepreneurs in their ride for such a worthy cause. Everyone at M Steels is happy to do everything we can to help them out.”

Chairman of the Variety Club for the region Bob Gladwin said:

“We wish the cyclists good luck on their trip and would like to thank them for choosing to support our charity with their fundraising. The donations we receive will help many deserving youngsters here in the North East to have a better quality of life.”

To support the cyclists contact Will Ryles on 07501 466 235 or alternatively, you can email him at wryles@dovcor.com. The Young Entrepreneurs Trust (YOT) is a support network for young people running businesses in the UK and runs events in the North East. They can be visited online at www.youngentrepreneurstrust.org.uk. More information on the work of the Variety Club in the region can be found at their site www.varietyclubnorth.org.uk. M. Steel Cycles in Gosforth caters for cyclists at all levels, from amateur to professional, and he and the team are always happy to offer advice on all cycling-related subjects. Customers can call into the shop, telephone 0191 285 1251 or visit online at www.msteelcycles.co.uk.

M. Steel Cycles, Gosforth, knows that riding a bike is not only practical but fashion forward and glamorous. This month the dedicated team are giving out their top tips on cycle fashion as well as recapping trends over the past decades.

The staff at M. Steel Cycles give us an insight in to a few ‘Cycle Chic’ fashion must haves…

Sunglasses

This has nothing to do with whether or not the sun is shining.
Wear sunglasses to keep out flies, and as your disguise, because with a helmet and elbow pads you may wish to keep your appearance a mystery. And don’t forget, when it comes to sunglasses, the bigger the better.

The basket

For us ladies the practical basket is a must have, this vintage style is a perfect place to keep our bags, shopping, work files and heels whilst we are pushing the bike peddles in pumps.

Giant wedge

The bigger the heel, the more practical the shoe…I bet you never thought you would hear that!

Stilettos and high heels are definitely not something that I would recommend whilst riding a bike, but the idea of being able to actually reach the ground without injuring yourself trying to balance at traffic lights, leaves me craving a heel.

A wedged platform is fashion forward and practical – perfect for this summer’s style.

Helmet

We all know helmets are impractical but massively important with all these crazy motorists around.  Now, thanks to ‘YAKKAY’ you don’t have to dread putting on your helmet every time you step out the door, and you may even want to leave these on indoors – at least you won’t have to worry about looking like Heck of the Hesperus when you take it off!

Bag

If a basket is a little too bold for you then opt for a messenger style satchel that can be worn across the body. Handbags tend to get in the way of the wheels, so watch out. Go for something big and bold; a statement bag is all the rage this season.

Culottes

Wearing a mini skirt that is sure to ride up is almost definitely going to cause a few road accidents, so opt for pleated tailored culottes, a more sensible option. This fashion must have can be teamed with a blazer to smarten up at work or with a casual top for a spot of summer shopping.

Fashion is about finding your own sense of style as well as incorporating trends from pervious decades.

M. Steel Cycles takes a look back at ‘Cycle Chic’ over the years…

60’s fashion

The swinging sixties changed fashion forever, colours drifted from pale pastels to colourful blocks known as ‘the tropical years’. Make sure you don’t take this the wrong way; it will never be ok to wear a Hawaiian shirt of any description.

When cycling mini skirts and A-line dresses were swapped for culottes, Capri trousers and oversized knits.

70’s fashion

The seventies saw bright floral dresses making an appearance, teamed with feminine oversized bows and hair nets.

Ladies, to avoid any embarrassing situations ensure your dress isn’t too long, as this will result in your dress getting caught in the chain and will cause an ‘I want the ground to swallow me up’ moment as you fly over the handlebars into the nearest thorn bush, watching in slow motion as a yappy dog cocks its leg to urinate all over your carefully picked cycling outfit.

80’s fashion

Don’t let your dad convince you that Lycra is cool and ‘everyone in the 80’s wore it’, because its not… and they didn’t!

Leotards, dance wear and disco. This fashion era was perfect for creating your very own ‘Cycle Chic’ image.

90’s

Neon colours and denim took the fashion stage in the 90’s with popular outfits consisting of peddle pusher pants and drainpipe jeans, leggings and leg warmers.

The 90’s saw the rise of the sexy thong underwear. Sitting on a bike seat for longer than a minute is painful enough without adding to the situation, so ensure you’re so called ‘underwear’ sits comfortably. OK, perhaps you may want to accidently hoist it up a little to get a few toots from the builders in the white van… everyone deserves a bit of attention, right?

The noughtie’s

This season’s trend for pretty ballerina style pleats and light-weight fabrics with lots of movement are not only cool and comfortable to cycle in but make you feel wonderfully feminine.

Jumpsuits are also the height of fashion this season and if you want to cycle and turn heads, opt for a colourful, sleeveless, tapered leg all in one. Be careful to find a style to suit your body shape as ankle swingers and a camel toe have never been in fashion.

Fashion is an ever changing industry therefore it may sometimes be hard to keep up with trends, however cycle fashion does not change as rapidly, giving you time to experiment and find clothes that suit you and your bike.

If you’re interested in being a trend setter then visit M.Steel Cycles shop at 6-10 Bowsden Terrace, South Gosforth, NE3 1RX. Call 0191 285 1251 or visit http://www.msteelcycles.co.uk

Matt Jones, Senior Project Officer at Sustrans in Newcastle will spend the day on an exercise bike in Metrocentre to help him reach his target of raising £10,000 for local disability charity, Calvert Trust Kielder on 13 August.

Matt hopes to raise funds by cycling non-stop from 9am until 9pm which will be the equivalent of the Sustrans Sea to Sea cycle, to generate enough power to make smoothies for shoppers to buy; the proceeds of which will all go to the charity.

 The Metrocentre cycle will kick off Matt’s ultimate challenge, Killer Kielder – a totally unique and epic off-road one day adventure – which will take place next month on 3 September.

“I’m looking forward to the Metrocentre challenge as although it will be a tough day for me it will be great to receive some support from local shoppers in my preparation for Killer Kielder.

“To support Matt in his challenge to raise £10,000 for Calvert Trust Kielder please visit Exhibition Squarein Metrocentre between 9am and 9pm on 13 August or sponsor him by visiting www.justgiving.com/killerkielderchallenge.

For more information on the challenge please go to www.killerkielder.co.uk or for information on the charity please visit www.calvert-trust.org.uk.  

Matt on the smoothie bike supplied by M Steel Cycles

We will be supporting Matt as he embarks on an epic one day Iron Man style adventure challenge at Kielder, all for Disability Charity Calvert Trust Kielder.

On the 3rd of September Matt will be racing the Kielder 100 (100 miles mtb race) through Kielder Forest, paddling 5 miles in a Kayak across Kielder Water and then running around the Lakeside Way, a gruelling 26 miles, all inside 20 hours!

He has aptly named the challenge Killer Kielder!

Killer Kielder

 Matt lives and works in Newcastle and has participated in many events at Kielder, from the Kielder 100 in September 2010 to the Kielder Marathon and several duathlon races.“Kielder was where I had my first taste of competitive cycling a few years back. I’m always looking for the next big thing that will push me mentally and physically to my limits and beyond. Kielder is one of the very few places in the UK where such a demanding one day challenge could be made possible.”

Disability charity Calvert Trust Kielder has been chosen as the beneficiary for Killer Kielder. Matt is hoping to raise over £10,000 to support the work of the Trust who help people with disabilities to realise their potential through the challenge of outdoor adventure.

“I was keen to support a charity that is local to the Kielder area. Calvert Trust Kielder was for me both an obvious choice and a perfect match with the spirit of Killer Kielder, ‘It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.’ In the same way I am setting myself the biggest challenge of my life; Calvert Trust enables people to overcome theirs everyday.”

Matt’s sponsors include Bruichladdich, Progressive Hebridean Distillers, creative design consultancy Perro and Exposure Lights.

You can follow Matt as he prepares for this epic adventure challenge including a full calendar of races and other challenges by visiting his website, www.killerkielder.co.uk, or follow him on Twitter @killerkielder. You can sponsor Killer Kielder by visiting www.justgiving.com/killerkielderchallenge.

• At least 20% off all 2011 sale bikes while stocks last.
• Huge range of clothing from £10
• Blackburn Bottle Cages £5
• Cateye Strada Wireless Computers £35
• Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack £30
• Specialized Align Helmet £20
• Specialized Primo Shoes £35
• Road Tyres from £10
• High5 Nutrition Packs £5
• 2011 test bikes all at less than cost price

Sale ends Saturday 13th August 2011.  All 2011 bikes will remain on sale until sold.

Richard:
When it was suggested that I go for a ride with Jonathon, I jumped at the chance-sorry Jonathan, had to get that out of the way early on.  I was intrigued to find out why he had developed an interest in cycling, when the discipline between our sports is so different.

We met in Morpeth for one of my favourite rides; a challenging loop of 50 miles, with some fantastic scenery and substantial climbs. Jonathan had loaned a pair of tubular shod Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate wheels from M. Steels; perfect for this type of undulating terrain.   We turned out of the town and onto Netherwitton road, where there was just flowing green farmland.  I asked Jonathan why he had started cycling:

“I decided that I wanted to get fit again after seven years of no real exercise. I had played golf during that time but it does not really boost your fitness. Cycling is also so different to my triple jump training; I’ve never done endurance work before so it’s a great challenge and I’m learning something new, training by heart rate for example. I’d like to get better at climbing!”

This was fortunate, as we then hit the first ramp, which moved down to Forestburn Gate and the Cheviots opened up.  Jonathan had been riding for less than a year, so I was impressed when he sped up the locally renowned hill at Bilsmoor.  I think he was pleased too:

“I did this climb a few months ago and I must say I rode it much better this time.”

Within his busy international schedule, the BBC athletics commentator explained that he has to squeeze in opportunities to develop his riding where he can:

“I generally spend half the week in London and half the week at home in Newcastle. I don’t do lots of riding around London – it’s pretty scary! But I do have a single speed bike that I use on rollers in my London flat. It’s really good for technique.”

Rollers and turbo trainers are very effective for developing your climbing technique, as Jonathan proved.  We plummeted down to Elsdon and had little respite before the rhythm-breaking ascent of Winter’s Gibbert.   I asked if he felt the unspoilt north east environment had helped cultivate his interest in cycling:

“Definitely! It’s a total revelation. From my home in Newcastle it’s literally five miles until I am out into unchartered territory. I’ve found some stunning places in Northumberland, simply through getting out on my bike. Sweethope Lough is beautiful and this loop we are doing today is pretty special too. I’d also like to get out towards Alwinton at some time.”

Jonathan’s borrowed Mavic Cosmic wheels were helping him carry speed through the dips and rolls past Harwood Forest and through to Mitford.  I asked him why he was a customer of M Steels:

“You have to Steel yourself before you go in! (That’s one each in the bad pun stakes Mr Edwards!) You have to tell yourself that you aren’t going to spend any money… but it’s like an Aladdin’s Cave. The new shop is excellent and a huge improvement on the old premises. The service is friendly and the guys really know about cycling. Whenever I visit I’m well looked after.”

We finished the route in Morpeth, agreeing how invigorating a good ride could be.  With his new and infectious enthusiasm for cycling, I wondered whether Jonathan had any cycling goals:

“I’m not particularly event-orientated. I just want to improve. I was very stats orientated as an athlete so even an average speed increase of half a mile an hour would be very satisfying. I think the best thing about cycling though is that I feel much better in myself – it’s a general feeling of wellbeing.”

These are the reasons that I ride too; for the huge health benefits and the enjoyment of being on a bike.  There are few better places to ride a road bike than in Northumberland and I hope that Jonathan continues to enjoy his exploration of our incredible landscape.

Joe:
Sounds like the boys really went through their paces.  We are so lucky to have this amazing environment to ride in.  For more information about Northumberland cycle routes, telephone M. Steel Cycles on 0191 285 1251 or visit us at 6-10 Bowsden Terrace, South Gosforth, NE3 1RX.

Joe Waugh.