Cycling Plus Issue 407 (July 2023)

Cycling Plus Issue 407 (July 2023)

This month's issue includes free Cycling Plus socks!

The Bike of the Year edition of Cycling Plus is out now, complete with 25 of the year's greatest bikes on test across the road, gravel, women's and budget genres. We also celebrate the joy of riding at night, recap all the action from the Tour of Flanders, and rate the best cycling backpacks.

We’ve selected the best 25 bikes of 2023 in the budget, endurance, women’s-specific, gravel, aero and performance genres. Historic brands, major sellers and newer kids on the block are all present and correct, but which six bikes will take the category honours? And which will come out on top as our overall Bike of the Year?

Women's Bike of the Year - Should you go for a women’s-specific build or adapt a unisex model? We put three female-targeting options from Scott, Liv and Ribble to the test on the ascents and descents of Dartmoor.

Gravel Bike of the Year - Grit, gravel, asphalt and multi-day rides. Our fistful of all-terrain monsters look to handle it all and more. But which will be the gravel bike of 2023?

Essential upgrades - Our Buyer's Guide this month is on the best cycling backpacks for commuting and/or all-day adventures. We also rate Bell's new Falcon XR helmet, top women's kit, pedals and budget bikepacking kit.

Join the dark side? - Whether in the depth of winter or height of summer, riding at night offers a sensory experience all of its own. Will our feature make you turn to the dark side?

Music and cycling - Dom Whiting has combined his loves of cycling and drum & bass music and turned them into hugely popular city rides. We joined one in Bristol to see what all the fuss is about, plus we select the greatest cycling-themed songs in history.

Training Zone - Our new look Training Zone section answers your common cycling questions, provides healthy and energising recipes, and gives winning advice on the small on-bike changes that can reap the biggest rewards. Plus, there's a six-week training plan to get you ready to race this summer.

Whether you’re looking at investing in a new bike, trying a different kind of cycling or searching for new gear to make those days on the road more comfortable, Cycling Plus is the magazine for you.

Check out the CyclingPlus website.