After an extended lay-off post-pandemic, the Adventure Travel Show is returning for its 25 edition on 11-12 January 2025 under iconic vaulted glass roof of the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. There will be more than 100 exhibitors and talks from a great line-up of explorers and adventurers who’ve returned from travels around the UK and across the globe by sail, foot, kayak, bus and of course, by bike.
A staple in the adventure travel calendar, the show has been brought back for this milestone edition, delivering a more immersive experience for attendees with two days of inspiration, expert talks, and an extensive showcase of the latest gear and travel destinations — whether you’re a cyclist, trekker, or motorbike adventurer.
The good news is that you can book early bird tickets for the two days now on the website, which costs £11 for each day. The even better news is that if you can use the code FREETIX, you can get attend both days for zero ticket costs. The code is valid for only the first 50 users, so chop chop, avail your free tickets here right now!
What to Expect
We are assuming if you’re here, you’d like to know what’s there for cyclists. Rest assured, this year’s show is set to be big on bikepacking, cycling tours, and adventure cycling gear. Exhibitors like Surly Bikes and Reilly Bikes will be in attendance, offering an impressive lineup of rugged, high-performance bikes built for long-distance adventure and off-road exploration. From Surly’s iconic range of steel-framed bikes designed for durability and comfort to Reilly's custom carbon creations tailored for serious adventurers, there will be plenty for cycling aficionados to explore.
Additionally, brands like Monopati Hike N’ Bike from Greece and Bike Tours Portugal will bring a unique international flavor to the event. Monopati will be showcasing its bike-and-hike tours that combine cycling with hiking in the stunning Greek landscapes, while Bike Tours Portugal will offer expert insight into the country’s top cycling routes, from coastal paths to challenging mountain trails.
For those looking to take their cycling to the next level, there will be a range of cycling-related talks and workshops covering everything from training for multi-day tours to essential bikepacking gear. With bikepacking continuing to grow in popularity, the show is the perfect place to get inspired for your next cycling adventure.
Expert Speakers and Adventure Talks
The 2025 Adventure Travel Show also offers a chance to hear from some seriously inspiring people who’ve taken on epic journeys and are ready to share their stories.
Among the highlights is Carlton Reid, Forbes’ transport correspondent, former editor of BikeBiz and author of Roads Were Not Built for Cars. Reid will be discussing his recent off-road, round-Britain ride, where he explored the hidden gems of the UK’s lesser-known bike routes and tackled some of the most challenging off-road terrains.
Felicity Cloake, travel and food journalist for The Guardian, will be sharing her experiences from her food-focused cycling ride across the USA. She’s cycled coast to coast, exploring the country one bite at a time — meeting local chefs, trying regional dishes, and discovering how food and cycling can make the perfect travel combo. If you’re into food, cycling, or both (duh!), Felicity’s talk will definitely inspire your next bike-and-food adventure.
Kate Rawles, an adventure cyclist and author of Carbon Cycle, will also be at the show to share stories from her eco-friendly bike journeys and chat about how cycling can both challenge and inspire us to think more sustainably.
Meanwhile, Rebecca Lowe, author of Slow Road to Tehran, will be talking about her solo ride from London to Iran. If you’re thinking about doing a long-distance solo ride (or just love hearing about bold, life-changing trips), Rebecca’s talk will be packed with insights.
Then there’s Sahir Permall, who did an Adventure Queens-funded ride from Scotland to Turkey, will also be talking about the ups and downs of solo travel, the importance of community, and what it’s like to take on a big adventure as a woman of colour.
And last but definitely not least, Duncan Covey will join the show live (Wi-Fi willing!) from his round-the-world cycling trip. Duncan’s journey is still going strong, so he’ll be sharing live updates, talking about the challenges he’s faced, and what it’s really like to be on the road for months (or years) at a time.
Tickets and Information
The 2025 Adventure Travel Show is just around the corner, and tickets are now available! While there are already early-bird discounts for those who book in advance, with our exclusive offer, you can get 2 free tickets using the code FREETIX — two free tickets per use!
The discount codes will be capped at a maximum of 50 pairs to keep things fair on a first come, first serve basis. So, if you want to snag your free tickets, don’t wait too long — click this link to book yours now.
The show runs from 11-12 January 2025 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. For full details on the event, exhibitors, and the full speaker lineup, head over to the official Adventure Travel Show website. And remember—FREETIX for your free pair of tickets, while they last!
It’s not the Daily Mail, it’s not The Telegraph. Golly, it’s not even The Times. It’s The Standard, who’ve blown the windows open with a solid showing in this month’s anti-cycling column, crossing off all the usual bingo numbers — and even bringing a whole new level of passion for the game, if I may add.
In a comment piece titled “The London Question: Why is London suddenly full of cyclists charging at pedestrians?” posted in the London Standard last night, columnist Melanie McDonagh charges at the reader, saying: “You see it every day: cyclists ignoring red lights and pedestrian crossings and pedalling furiously on their way as if the lights don’t apply to them. A cycling colleague yesterday witnessed two cyclists colliding at right angles, having run the lights from separate directions. He observed with some gratification that they were both taken to task by an infuriated pedestrian.”
She then mentions that she is observant of this more now than before because she was knocked down by a cyclist and hurt at Ludgate Hill. The cyclist also fell down his bike, and was surrounded by indignant riders, who shouted at him: “You’re the kind of prick who gives the rest of us a bad name,” even offering her to be witnesses should she press charges.
She didn’t though, as she was “shaken” and “just wanted to get away”. However, she claims that with this incident, she was added to the “thousands of pedestrians whose accidents with cyclists are not recorded”.
She added that the official 7 per cent figure injuries to pedestrians being caused by cyclists is a “guaranteed underestimate” — a figure that was the foundation for Olympian and England’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner Chris Boardman to proclaim that “more people are killed by lightning, or cows”.
McDonagh continues: “The psychology of the bad cyclist isn’t hard to discern; he (sorry, but it’s usually a he) is so conscious of his own vulnerability vis a vis cars that he feels that he can regard the rules of the road with latitude since his objective is to avoid getting on the wrong side of a turning car. He’s unconscious of the fact that there is another party just as vulnerable to him, viz, the pedestrian crossing the road. And of course, many cyclists, like the rest of us, are in a hurry; most of the ones I see going through red lights — and I see it every day — are plainly in a rush. But I’m afraid red lights apply to two wheels as well as four. A cycle going at high speed can kill you, especially if you’re frail, and that’s not even considering electric bikes which are that bit heavier and faster.”
She lays down a number of measures which can be implemented to solve this problem, such as police to deal with offenders on-the-spot (“Have you ever seen a cyclist who jumps red lights pulled over by the police, the way speeding cars are?”), confiscating bikes of red-light jumping cyclists, and if it’s a rider on hire bike, imposing hefty fines on the card details held by the hire bike company, before ending with a deafening blow: “But we must do something about homicidal cyclists. A useful mode of transport has been hijacked by lunatics.”
The whole article is accompanied with a vox pop video too. I’m not going to lie, it’s a painful watch, with some random Londoners asked what I’m assuming must’ve been a loaded question, and sharing suggestions like introducing “speed limits” and “traffic lights”, one person adding: “I’m just scared of cyclists because I’m scared they’re going to steal my phone.”
The London Question: How can we tackle dangerous cyclists? 🎥#londonlife#cyclistpic.twitter.com/35DyZMj6t0
— The Standard (@theLDNstandard) December 12, 2024
All of this was shared on Facebook for a wonderful range of anti-cycling comments — with a picture showing a motorist driving across London CS7, as a cyclist has to take aversive action to not get hit…
All’s not lost. There was one comment suggesting the irony of the image: “And yet clearly he picture shows the threat that drivers pose by the simple act of not complying with the requirements of the road markings thereby creating an additional hazard to the cyclists who have to compensate once again.”
One person added: “Hope you also address drivers running red lights and pedestrians crossing against red lights in your articles. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but let’s be honest—everyone does it,” while another said: “The media question: Why is so much of our media owned by off shore billionaires who twist any agenda to suit themselves?Drivers are responsible for 5 hit and runs every day in London.”
As always, feel free to comment what you think about the Standard comment…
We had barely managed to recover from the reaction to Colnago’s unveiling of the Y1Rs, Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates’ new bike that is apparently the “most aerodynamic in the WorldTour”... which is all very well, but that didn’t stop leaked images of the bike going down like a lead balloon on social media due to the unusual aesthetics.
And now we’ve been dealt a double blow by Ingrid Components, an innovative Italian company that manufactures high performance bicycle parts, releasing their new road ‘brifters’ which allow riders to shift both up and down the cassette with one ‘shifter’ in a unique way as well as braking.
Of course, cyclists are less focused on the function than the form Ingrid have chosen to go with this new design, landing somewhere in the middle of Lego Land, Roblox World, and Minecraft. Or as road.cc editor Jack put it, “the bike industry is in its brutalist phase about 60 years after everyone else”.
Here’s some reaction from our coverage of it…
“When someone says they have a face for radio, this is the equivalent.”
“This is the week of ugly cycling? First place the new Colnago, and now this.”
“Nice design for Roblox! Look horrific from an ergonomic view, hopefully better in use?”
“Designed in-house by Lego. One person let loose with a ruler.”
And some comments on the article:
cyclisto: “I believe that this shape must be the result of the same reason Cybetruck is shaped like that. Easy to make with a stamping press.”
NickSprink: “So are we expecting Ingrid to be the new groupset suppliers to team UAE and Colnago? Seems in keeping with other recent announcements…”
lesterama: “If your bike's not ugly enough already, you now know what to add next.”
Keep the jokes coming, any light reading for a dour Friday afternoon is welcome!
The national governing body also posted its third consecutive loss amid “severe economic headwinds” – as its CEO emphasised the “urgent” need to modernise and increase commercial prospects, while insisting there’s no “overnight fix”.
Over £77,000 was set aside to repair a “dangerous, deteriorating” road near a housing development, but the council said “meaningful improvement works” would cost “far in excess” of the sum provided by the developers.
After retiring at the end of 2022 disillusioned with cycling, Holmes made an unlikely return this year riding for himself. On the road.cc Podcast, he discusses the challenges of DIY racing and why he’s optimistic for the future of Britain’s domestic scene...
Cycling UK has released its 100 Women in Cycling list, spotlighting women from all walks of life and across all levels of cycling who have done their bit to influence cycling and inspire others.
The charity said that it started this list in 2017 to “bring more visibility to women who cycle and to address the gender imbalance that is both real and perceived in cycling”. By highlighting these trailblazing women, the charity aims to motivate the next generation of riders to get on their bikes and make cycling a part of their everyday lives.
This year’s list ranges from the founder of Africa’s first woman-owned cycling apparel brand, Alice Kivuva, to award-winning author, educator and founder of the Period Positive movement, Chella Quint OBE. Covering everything from grassroots campaigners to business leaders and social media influencers, the awards are given out in four categories, including community champion, sporting hero, cycle influencer, and industry mogul
Sarah Mitchell, chief executive at Cycling UK, said: “Each year I’m blown away by all the remarkable stories we receive of women making lasting, inspirational and transformative change through cycling. It’s a privilege to share these names and give real recognition to the women who have worked so hard to bring their love of cycling to others.
18-year-old CeCe Balfour, a ride leader for the New Forest Off Road Club, Hampshire, who has learning disabilities, ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and complex needs from Hampshire is one of the women to make the list, said: “Being on the 100 Women in Cycling list is just so fantastic. It makes me happy and proud. I love cycling because it's just so magical. Being out with your friends is so good.”
Ayomide Oluyemi, 29, meanwhile rediscovered cycling in 2020 and now serves on the committee of the North London club Velociposse, leading rides and organising sessions for people of colour and trans and non-binary cyclists, said: “It's a huge honour to be named as a community champion in Cycling UK's 100 Women in Cycling. I've been following the list closely ever since I got into cycling and it's been a source of inspiration for me, so being included feels extra special.
“I'm fortunate to have a wonderful community of women, trans and non-binary people who showed me the ropes when I first got into cycling, and I still learn from today. I try to pay this forward through coaching skills sessions for my club, Velociposse. Like Cycling UK, we want to get more under-represented groups into cycling, through providing supportive spaces for people to learn in.”
67-year-old Heather Lambert, a founding member and ride leader of Newcastle’s Ride For Their Lives, an international collective of healthcare workers campaigning about the climate crisis and the impact of air pollution in seriously damaging children’s health is also on the list. In 2024, she rode from Newcastle to Birmingham, around London, UK to Paris and Paris to Geneva, to raise awareness of the wide range of illnesses caused by air pollution.
Heather said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be on this list with so many inspirational people who have done incredible things. Riding together with RFTL we discuss what actions are needed to protect the planet; we support each other to speak up about the evidence that air pollution is seriously damaging our health and we advocate for the air we breathe to be cleaner. The people who cycle with us are diverse by age, gender, job, fitness, ability; riding regular or electric bikes. We have fun and try to model how cycling should be, aligning with Cycling UK’s excellent focus on diversity and encouraging anyone to try cycling. If we can’t imagine a better world, how can we fight for it?”
You can see the full list here.
Earlier this week, Trafford was named the “best council in Manchester” after it received over 60 per cent of the votes at the Walk Ride Greater Manchester Awards
While the council was recognised for its commitment to active travel, reflected in its upgraded infrastructure including the introduction of segregated cycle lanes, walkways, and School Streets schemes, where roads are closed to vehicles during school pick-up and drop-off times with limited exceptions — a cyclist has shared image of a “hideous” pothole on Twitter.
Nadia Kerr, a solicitor dealing with cycling crash and serious injury claims and requests, wrote: Congratulations but Trafford Council, can you fix this hideous #pothole on Edge Lane near the junction with Kings Road (outside tram stop). I hit is a few weeks ago and reported it. It’s still there! It’s massive.”
Remco Evenepoel’s crash last week, after an unfortunate dooring incident with a Belgium Post van during a training ride, has forced him to be hospitalised. Initial reports suggested that it could just be a broken collarbone, however, examinations at the Erasumus Hospital in Anderlecht showed that the injuries were much worse, with the double Olympic champion suffering fractures to his rib, right shoulder blade and right hand, as well as contusions on both lungs and a luxation of the clavicle.
Now, in an interview with Sporza, he has opened up about his condition and what this could mean for the 24-year-old’s upcoming season, saying that while he’s doing alright given the circumstances, he’s feeling “anxious” about his early 2025 programme getting derailed.
“In the shoulder region everything was pretty much destroyed,” Evenepoel, who launched a road safety campaign with bpost urging all drivers to use the ‘Dutch Reach’ to avoid injuring cyclists by dooring them, said. “All ligaments were torn, so that there was a bone floating in my shoulder region, so to speak. That's why the joint has to be fixed properly now.”
“I initially thought it was my collarbone, but when I was straightened up on the chair, I felt that the pain was actually coming from the outside of my shoulder. Unfortunately, the list of damage turned out to be a bit longer.”
He added: “In December I'm not allowed to do anything at all, just some movements to keep the joint flexible. On January 6th we have a new scan planned and I will know more.
“I expect a month of intensive work with the physiotherapist and some training on the rollers. And then I hope to be able to train outside from February 1.
“Am I already counting down? I realise that I still have a long way to go. Two months in this period is precious time that I will lose. But that’s how it is.
“I don’t panic easily, but I do feel a bit anxious at the moment about when I’ll be back in shape. I know I can get back into good shape quickly if I start training, but mid-April is still late to be competitive again.
“Normally a good winter and preparation takes three to four months. I only start in February... Then you only end up in May when you make the calculation. It will therefore be difficult to set goals in the spring.”
As of now, the first target for the world time trial champion looks in 2025 looks like it’ll be to get competitive on the bike and race the Belgian monument Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but a tilt at victory could still be difficult. He said: "I will certainly do my best to achieve that. With this injury I will unfortunately have to skip races like the Tour of Catalonia or Paris-Nice. Those were big goals for me.”
“Then I hope to be able to ride all four Ardennes classics. I would like to celebrate my return there and I hope to be in good shape to be able to score in Liège. Although I realise that it will still be a tough road.”
“It’s often easy to put on a smile for the cameras, but behind the scenes it's still painful and difficult. It's not my first setback, but it may well be one of the last. It’s really been a year full of ups and downs.”
Thoughts on this new kit? I know it’s another blue jersey in the sea of blue shades in the peloton, but your live blog host thinks that it looks smart and nicely done. I think the white is a nice touch with the navy blue, and this praise is coming from someone who has an unholy amount of disdain for Red Bull designs and liveries in Formula 1.