The Cotswolds and hills go hand in hand, therefore it’s only right that Cyced dedicates an article to some of the toughest inclines in the area. Many of the hills on this list are around the Cheltenham area and are children of Cleeve Hill, the largest in the county. The statistics are taken from the specific Strava segments Cyced created for each climb, so the measurements and categorisations of the hills should be familiar. (more…)
Similar to our Cheltenham Bike Shops post we did a few months ago, Cyced has put together a list of all the great places to go and buy a bike in Gloucester. No matter what kind of cycling shop in Gloucester you are looking for, it will be covered below. This includes road bikes, eBikes and mountain bikes. It is important to note that most of these cycling shops also provide the cycle scheme but it is worth checking when you are in store for more details. (more…)
The Cheltenham Hillclimb Blitz is merely a warmup to veteran cyclists but a great introduction to novice riders who are looking to push themselves a little bit. There is a nice amount of hills and the ride itself comes in at 31.1km/19.3miles and should take between an 1-2 hours depending on your ability.
This is my go to Cheltenham cycle route when I don’t have too much time on my hands and need to let off some steam. The beauty of cycling around Winchcombe is the quiet roads. Whilst you start at the Cheltenham Racecourse and head up Cleeve Hill (B roads that can be congested if you hit rush hour times, including the 15:00 school rush), you’ll soon veer off to Gretton from Winchcombe, where you will be greeted by gorgeous landscape and low traffic.
This 35 mile Cheltenham cycling route has some nice climb to it. At 2000 feet, you can expect two cardio intensive gradual climbs, one of which is the classic Cleeve Hill reverse, coming from the picturesque Cotswold town of Winchcombe.
The other gradual climb that you will hit first is through Lidcombe Wood. As entertaining as it deceiving, this climb through tall trees keeps on going. When you think you are at the top, you are mistaken.
It has a great decent towards Guiting Power which soon swings you right round into the beautiful town of Winchcombe. I recommend a stop at the co-op for a flapjack. It’s what I always do in order to get the energy for a final push up Cleeve Hill and back down into Cheltenham.
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There are numerous places to go if you are looking for bike shops in Cheltenham. Be it to buy a new bike, get a new cycling jersey, or if you’re like me, just stare at the stuff you wish you could afford. Cyced has put together this list to help you identify the must go places in Cheltenham for your unhealthy cycling habits.
One of my favourite bike shops in Cheltenham because of their amazing customer service and staff. It’s always a pleasure to go into Cheltenham Cycles. They are a family owned business and sell cycling gear over a wide range of disciplines including Road, MTB, Touring, and Cyclocross. Located just off the high street, Cheltenham Cycles is easy to get to and is always a positive experience.
If you would like to know more about Cheltenham Cycles, visit them at 61 Winchcombe St, Cheltenham GL52 2NE.
Yet another family run bike shop! I’ve not been into Williams Cycles before, but have heard good things as well as read favourable reviews online about them. They stock a wide range of bikes and often have some good monthly promotions on offer. They are located just near Lidl, behind where the Beachwood shopping centre used to live, and have free parking with two showroom floors.
Visit them at 82-86, Albion street, Cheltenham, GL52 2SE.
This is where I purchased my beautiful Cannondale Synpase. They stock a large amount of cycling gear which makes it ideal if you need to quickly get something – you can be sure they probably have it. They stock a wide range of bikes, and often have the previous season’s on sale, something I took advantage of. Whilst located on the outskirts of Cheltenham, they are easy to get to by car or bike.
You can visit them at P4, Kingsditch Retail Park, Kingsditch Ln, Cheltenham GL51 9PG.
Photo by Jamieson Smith
Located opposite Turtle Bay in the town centre of Cheltenham, Lesiure Lakes is more geared towards mountain bikers. That’s not to say you can’t get road bikes or roadie accessories in there, it’s just your eyes will be met with fat tyres as you walk in. My experience in Leisure Lakes has always been a good one, yet I don’t personally venture there too often as a road cyclist purist. This bike shop in Cheltenham as a VIP club too, where the more you spend, the more points you get which equates into discount.
Visit them at 27 Pittville Street, , Cheltenham, GL52 2LN.
Roylan Cycles is another family run bike shop that is situated in The Suffolks part of Cheltenham, graced with the luxury of free parking. Then again, us cyclists can dodge parking charges altogether! They boast of 100 bikes on display and focus on quality at competitive prices. As like most of the shops you see here on this list, they work with the Cycle to Work Scheme – perfect if your employment place supports this.
Visit them at 2 Suffolk Parade, Cheltenham, GL50 2AB.
There are a few other bike shops in Cheltenham that you may come across. The one’s on this list are great ones to go to and you’ll not only be able to find what you need, but you will get to speak with real passionate cyclists. If you know of any other places that you believe deserve a mention on this list, please get in touch.
One of the best things about cycling is riding with others, and joining a club is a great way to do that. Gloucestershire is lucky enough to be a county with a large number of cycling clubs, and great quality ones too. So we’ve decided to dedicate an article to promote these. Without further ado, here are Cheltenham and Gloucestershire cycling clubs.
With over 300 members, CCCC is one of the oldest and most trusted Cheltenham cycling clubs in the county. There is plenty of room for riders of all levels, and there are separate groups for Road, Cyclocross, Mountain, and Ladies. The club is affiliated with a whole bunch of cycling organisations and its prices are more than reasonable, especially for the quality of rides and kit.
They run a number of events which you can access on their website calendar, from group rides to time-trials. If you love to ride, you’ll love this club.
If you’re interested in joining get in touch with the club on their website.
CCTC presents themselves a little differently to other clubs in the area, as its main focus is on communal cycling and exploring all that Gloucestershire has to offer. The club would be perfect for cyclists who are just looking for some epic scenery and a top-notch social experience. They are active across the week, with several rides going out to accommodate your work and family lives.
To join the club, they only ask you be fit enough to ride, to bring supplies and repair kit, and to be well prepared for any conditions. All that’s left then is to enjoy the ride.
You can find their website at Cheltenham CTC.
This club is a little smaller than the others, but its drive and passion for cycling is just as large. Operating out of the Woodmancote area of Cheltenham, the club has hosted a number of events and charity fundraises to keep its members busy throughout the year. It’s very open to new members and advertises an average social pace of around 16mph per ride.
The club is very clear about its ride etiquette, with the usual formation being 2 abreast in groups of no larger than 16. However, if the roads are narrower or traffic conditions worsen, then the group must reform into single file.
Visit their website at Woodmancote Wheelers.
With room for both road riders and mountain bikers, this clubs supports a number of activities from MTB enduro events, time-trials, touring, to sportives. Membership costs to the club are extremely low (go to their website and see for yourself), and guest riders are welcome on all rides. They are based in Winchcombe, and ride throughout the area. They even have a nifty for sale/ wanted page on their website.
Winchcombe Cycling Club, for more.
Being former members of this Cheltenham cycling club, we here at Cyced can truly attest to what the Blue Arrows has brought not just to us, but also to cycling in Gloucestershire. Members of the club have a fantastic relationship with local stores (such as Cheltenham Cycles and Leisure Lakes), and for the past two years have acted as sweepers for the Cheltenham Half-Marathon. Like the other clubs, they are open to all levels of cyclist, but are inclusive to students registered with the University of Gloucestershire (from campuses in Cheltenham and Gloucester), which is bad news for those who aren’t students, but fantastic news for those who are.
To contact the club visit their twitter at UoG_Cycling.
This is a club with big scope. They provide social and cycling events for members of all levels and abilities, and offers the opportunity to ride both at home and abroad. If you’re a road rider looking for a club and want the flexibility to join a different variety of rides and opportunities, the Gloucester City Cycling Club might just be the one for you.
We couldn’t possibly tell you everything this club has to offer here, so get over and visit GlosCityCC for much more.
The legacy of the London 2012 Olympics meant something special to many British athletes (of all levels), and was the spark for the formation of this particular club. They cover both road and MTB disciplines, and you can partake in up to 3 rides with the club before having to become a member, giving you plenty of time to figure out if it’s right for you. Based just outside of Gloucester, the club meets several times a week with three difficulty levels available: scenic, intermediate and sporting.
Find out more about Leadon Vale Cycling Club.
Based in the Stroud area, this thriving community of local cyclists host various road rides for different skilled riders. With a good ethos of never leaving a person behind, this may be the perfect club to join if you’re in the area and looking to join a Gloucestershire cycling club. Their Facebook group is very active and they use Strava to clock all their club hours.
See if the Stroud Valley Velos are for you.
A worthwhile investment is joining this club based in the Cirencester area. Primarily a racing club, you get a wealth of great discounts and exclusive offers with your annual membership. However, if you are in the area and it is a local club, they offer three group rides on a Saturday to cater for varying abilities.
Find out about memberships at Performance Cycles Club‘s website.
If you’re interested in more things about Cheltenham cycling, check our blog about Bike Shops in Cheltenham.
