Finding a great cycling route is one of the pleasures of cycling. Whether recommended by a friend, unearthed online or plotted by your own fair hand, setting out on a great route is a real treat. This is also true of hiking, running and walking; there's just something special about the excitement of a new route!

We're very proud of our London cycling routes here at Dirty Wknd. They've been created, tested and finessed over the last 5 years, and we think they're some of the best around. However we're always looking for new routes, new route providers and new tools for our members to be able create, find and use the best routes too. 

So we're very pleased to announce Komoot as our official route partner. Club Members will now be able to access free 'region bundles' to unlock extra maps, areas and other features. Normally only available to premium Komoot users, Dirty Wknd club members will get access to these tools for free.

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Apparently, the clocks went back this weekend. Quick check, did this actually happen? What day even is it? Asking for loads of friends! The clocks did go back, which means we've got an extra hour of daylight for escaping the city (solo) on our trusty push bikes.

Please use the below London cycling routes freely. They've all been thoroughly tested and perfected on our own evening rides over the past few summers. They should take between 1.5 and 3 hours, and contain lanes, quiet roads and a few climbs to keep things fun!

Please adhere to all official guidelines when cycling outdoors. Absolutely no group riding, solo trips only, and please keep distance from others. We want to be able to keep cycling outside during this lockdown. 

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“The Fred Whitton is widely regarded as the toughest sportive in the UK and right up there with European events such as the Marmotte, Maratona dles Dolomites and L'Etape du Tour”

I'd heard of The Fred, but didn’t really know much about it nor know anyone else who had done it (or 'been through it' is perhaps more apt). I knew it was brutal, but with these things it’s often about perspective, so I entered the ballot quite blindly (thanks to the encouragement of Sean Harrion!)  

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If you're ready to buy your first bike, or are in the very lucky position of acquiring another bike, then we're just green with envy. The journey you're about to go on, of buying your first bike or adding to your bike collection, is one that should be savoured.  

However it can be a bit of a minefield. There are so many different types of bike out there, with seemingly more variations being added all the time, that knowing exactly what type of bike to buy can be daunting.

First things first, you need to decide what type of cycling you want to do. Thankfully these days, this is not such a binary choice, with the rise of 'all road' and gravel type bikes becoming much more popular. What does that mean, we hear you ask? We'll explain the different bikes types in more details below, but in simple terms it means bike manufacturers are making more 'do it all' bikes that you can ride on road, on trail and on gravel. It's quite a time to be alive!

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Buying your first bike is a wonderful experience. You're purchasing nothing less than freedom and the chance to explore, increase your fitness and meet other cyclists in your area. You’ve made a wonderful decision. Really, well done you.

However it can be a bit daunting from the outset. There are so many different types of bike out there, so many different shops; where do you start? Buying your first bike should be anything but a stressful experience, so we're here to help. 

First things first - what type of riding do you want to do? Road riding or off road? What about a bit of both? Either way it's a good idea to research the different types of bikes before you start. Once you know what you want you can start shopping!

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Riding in a group is the best way to improve your cycling ability, fitness and sense  of fun. The level of support you get from the ride leader and other cyclists is huge, allowing you to go further, faster and higher without fear of getting stuck or lost. Whilst you benefit from the support of others however, there are certain things you should take with you on a group ride.

Every cyclists is a little bit different, so what they take on a ride can be personal to them, but there are a few staples that you should carry on a ride. Having a ride leader or friend to help you fix a puncture is great, but you don't want to be borrowing all the bits from them too!

We have included links to all products below to illustrate exactly what we mean, and to help you shop. We have used links to our partners as club members get 20-50% off. Find out about joining the club here.

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