January Sale With a Difference at 3 Peaks Cycles

The August bank holiday is the last big weekend of the summer, and if the forecast plays ball, there’s every reason to make the most of it. Whether you’re heading out with the family, chasing a big day in the saddle, or eyeing up a gravel/MTB loop, here are three rides from the shop to think about.

A summer guide to loading up a bike and going somewhere new

Cycle touring’s one of those trips that’s more fun than it really should be. You load up the bike with what you need for a few nights, point yourself somewhere new, and go. That’s more or less it.

It’s caught on again over the last few years. The kit is better than it has ever been, plenty of us have gone off airports, and summer evenings in the UK are long enough to actually get somewhere on a Wednesday after work. If you’ve been thinking about giving it a go, this is roughly what we’d tell you over a coffee in the shop.

Ranked and rated, climbs you can tick off from the shop door

The Dales has more good climbs than it has any right to. Some are famous, some are local favourites, and a fair few will have you wondering why you ever took up cycling in the first place.

Below are our ten favourites, ranked from best to “still very much worth doing”. Difficulty is rated out of 10, where 1 is tough but manageable, and 10 is “find a lower gear or get off and walk”. Some are right on the shop’s doorstep, others a bit further, but still reachable on a day ride from Settle.

Strap in.

Planning, pacing and practical tips for a better day on the bike

A long ride in the Yorkshire Dales has a habit of becoming harder than expected. What starts as a steady spin out of Settle can quickly turn into hours of climbing, rough roads, changing weather and a headwind that seems determined to follow you home.

That is part of the appeal.

Whether you are planning your first longer ride of the year or heading out for a full day linking together lanes, climbs and gravel tracks, a bit of preparation goes a long way. Not because you need to overcomplicate it, but because small things become much more noticeable five hours into a ride than they do after the first café stop.

Whether a beginner or a seasoned rider, these suggestions are always worth remembering.

A proper day out on two wheels

If you’ve spent any time riding around Settle, you’ll know one thing straight away – this place was made for gravel bikes.

Quiet lanes that turn into rough tracks. Old drovers’ roads cutting across open moorland. Limestone paths that feel like they’ve been there forever. It’s not polished or perfect, and that’s exactly the point.

Gravel riding in the Dales is less about chasing numbers and more about getting out, exploring, and seeing where a track leads.

Spring has a way of getting cyclists excited again. The days are getting longer, the roads are drying out, and those rides you’ve been thinking about all winter suddenly feel very real.

Before you head out on the first big ride of the season, it’s worth giving your bike a quick once-over. Winter conditions can be tough on components, and catching small issues early can save you from bigger problems later.

Here are 10 simple things to check before the riding season properly gets underway.