© Cycling Weekly/SfS
Hands up I am guilty. Guilty of not telling you about the great treasure chest we have in the UK. What am I talking about, riding in the lanes of the Great British Isles? Pick any county in the country and add a couple of local cyclists and voilà a great day out is guaranteed.
Too often in cycling (and maybe life) we have the mentality that the grass is greener on the other side. Often this can be true, but we should extol the virtues of the great riding country on your doorstep.
Sportive riding has opened up this Pandora’s box exposing the 'great lanes' to a new and wider audience. For many experienced racing cyclists it has shown them the length and depth beyond the normal realm of the crit race or established open road courses.
© Sprinting for Signs
One of my favourite sections in Cycling Weekly is devoted to this with the catchy title of 'Britain’s Best Routes'. To coin a phrase Chapeaux, as it's a great thing to promote. I enjoy the expose into the riders (sometimes a PRO) life and its great to see that we are all joined by a common bond, that we love to ride the bike.
© Cycling Weekly/SfS
Will it diminish my love affair for Belgium and the Classics? Absolutely not! Although we have some great riding it is impossible not to be infected by the love that the man on the street has for the sport. Knowing what lies out on your doorstep just makes those periods of not riding in Belgium a little easier, I just need to work on the general public to make them a bit more Flemish.
