Life In The Saddle

To justify an £18 price tag, a magazine must be exceptional. Every word must capture your imagination, and every image should inspire adventure; you should feel immersed in the stories in such a way that they come alive and speak to you. Far Ride Magazine, goes a substantial way towards achieving that—with its beautiful stories of bikepacking and adventure cycling. This journal pushes the boundary between magazine and book—a volume printed on heavyweight and colourful paper, with a spine as thick as your thumb. There is no doubt it is worthy of a place on your coffee table, based on front cover impressions alone. Dive into the publication, and the content lives up to the same impressive standard. Captivating stories of urban exploration in Singapore; accounts of Mexican dirt road adventures; personal and intimate insights into great bikepacking races such as the Transcontinental; even homemade ride fuel recipes… The content is varied, unique, and accompanied by awe-inspiring an...

I picked up the launch copy of the new 'Cyclist' magazine last week, and haven't been able to put it down since. It's something a bit special, that's for sure. With the matt finish cover featuring a stunning picture of the Swiss Alps, the magazine oozes class at a glance. Open it up and that impression permeates throughout; The 'Leadout' kit review section looks at the top of the range Trek Madone 2013, as well as £200 + Sportful jackets and Rapha Winter jerseys. It's clear from the outset then which end of the market this mag is aimed at (if the £5 price tag was not enough!). That's not to say that there is not something for everyone in this coffee table journal. The pieces that really caught my eye were those looking at the history of our sport. Avid cyclists can't help but wonder and marvel at the intricate past of the two wheeled world; I myself am currently reading Chris Sidwell's fantastic 'A Race For Madmen', which is an ...