WELCOME to the April issue

Spring is officially here and, traditionally, that means change is in the air. The warmer weather is heating our bike seats and with a little bit of WD-40 here and there, the bikes will be raring to go. If like me, you haven’t been brave enough to cycle through the wetter weather then even the bicycles themselves are eager to get out on those country roads.

But April is also a month filled with important cycling-related dates from start to end. The first day of the month is April Fool’s Day, a day overflowing with pretend arachnids and OTT jokes. Of course, that has nothing to do with cycling, that was just a reminder to buy a fake spider. However, 7th April is World Health Day. So, if we need an excuse to talk about all the health benefits that cycling has, then this is it. Then, on 22nd April we have Earth Day. This is a day to make people aware of how good riding a bike is for the environment. Especially because when travelling, cycling gives off the lowest carbon emissions of all the transport out there.

Whether roaming America, India, Europe or solely the UK, this is perhaps why some of this month’s contributors opted for cycling when they took their trip around the world. Or why, when they are arriving at their destination, they chose to travel the country on two trusty wheels. It’s also why we see an article about the naked cyclists that highlight the importance of cycling for the environment.

In this issue, we also hear from fitness coaches and cycling trainers and as well as this, we have a special interview conducted by a class of budding Italian bicyclers. We can also read about how to deal with those scary sheepdogs when cycling in the European countryside (they are just big balls of fluff, really) and we read in detail all about specific destinations people have visited throughout the mag too.

Surely after all that excitement, there is only one thing left to do. So, as Freddy Mercury famously says, “Get on your bikes and ride!”

Grace Barnott Palin