The joys of cycling

‘I grew up with a keen cyclist in the house: my mum. She pedalled her Raleigh road bike everywhere – from popping to the local shops, to across counties for fun

– and I don’t think she’ll mind me saying it made her a bit unusual, because women’s road cycling wasn’t as popular then as it is now. I started cycling on that same bike during my teens, then later destroyed it in a group ride pile-up (sorry, Mum). My first date with my husband was on a bike, and years later, we got engaged while riding the Fred Whitton Round. I’ve been on bike tours with friends and family and, these days, I just love watching my children discover the same passion for cycling. It’s such an inclusive sport, whether you cycle around your village for convenience, indoors to keep fit or on the roads competitively. So if you haven’t yet discovered the joys of cycling, hopefully our Cycling Special will get you started. ‘Already love your bike? Turn to page 24, where our experts offer some great cycling conditioning and injury-prevention advice.

And if you need inspiring to go on an adventure, our interview with cover star Helen Skelton (page 18) will do just that.

‘Of course, May is also National Walking Month, so this issue wouldn’t be complete without a feature on the trending form of hiking that’s perfect for supercharging fitness levels: speed hiking (page 32). And elsewhere, we’ve got a yoga flow for runners

(page 84) and a strength workout that will put your balance to the test (page 80). This issue is packed with something for everyone, so get stuck in right now!’

Editor