Stitz’s companion for this ride was gravel rider and furniture-maker Andy Dix. We actually rode this route on wooden gravel bikes... The impact guiding has on people is what Aneela loves most about it. The effect it has, not just in terms of the journey or the ride itself, but also the social interaction and being connected to the environment. She has the ability to show people places they've never been, and enjoys how confident and happy cycling makes people. And does she plan to run any guided gravel experiences? Not yet, but possibly in the future. Tweed Valley gravel route

From our earliest products, the objectives at Kinesis UK have always been to create bikes, bike frames, wheels and components for road, cyclocross, adventure and mountain bikes that excel in UK riding conditions. For us to put a Kinesis UK badge on any product it must be well made and dependable all year round, perform at a level beyond its price point and help people have fun while riding or in use. From the bluebell woods and west country ridgeways of Wessex to the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales, we head to some of the most stunning corners of the UK in 2023.

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The mountain biking trails on Cathkin Braes in Glasgow were developed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Simon Wilkinson / SWPix.com We launched this brand believing that UK riders will appreciate products that are carefully designed to make UK riding better and are affordable and over the years many thousands of Kinesis customers have agreed with us. Before reaching that promised land, however, there was the other promise that Neil had mentioned at the start – crossing that aforementioned “boggy” bit. It would transpire that “boggy” was a gross understatement, with the emphasis very firmly on gross. Beautifully illustrated, easy to use and with a ton of useful information … perfect for exploring on two wheels.’Richard Bath, Scottish Field

The Drovers Trail is not just about the scenery, but the dense forests, rolling hills, deep glens and winding routes do make for dramatic viewing. There’s a whole lot of history along the way, too. It’s a good idea to carry plenty of food if you’re heading somewhere remote, as options to shop or for a coffee stop may be few and far between. Cash may still be king in some remote areas. Make sure you can carry enough fluids too, unless you’re happy to refill water bottles from a stream. The mountain bike trails on Cathkin Braes were custom-built to host cycling events at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This gives you a certain guarantee of the trail quality and, sure enough, there’s some serious infrastructure up there. After a day in the rain, you’ll probably not want to ride a second day in wet kit, so take several changes of clothing. If you’re camping, make sure that it’s all well wrapped up in dry bags. Take something to wash out wet, dirty clothing with too.Markus describes Milton Keynes as a busy place. “It’s a typical big town,” he says. “But it's an interesting town, built in the 60s, with good cycling infrastructure. It’s a new town, so there's not a shiny castle, but it was a great day out on bikes, passing canals and these picture-perfect, wide gravel paths which if you took out of context, you would be saying 'this is amazing'!