Watching E.T. being whisked to safety in a bike basket in the early '80s got Alex hooked on BMX cycling when he was just twelve years old. A few years later it was Channel 4's nightly Tour de France highlights show on the small screen that led to him selling his beloved BMX and buying a Dawes 'Racing' bike. A Saturday-job in a local bike shop introduced him to the joy of fettling, getting his hands dirty and lusting after unaffordable bike bling.
A life-long cyclist, it's only in the last decade that he's taken the plunge and had a go at road, track, TT, cyclo-X and even indoor racing. A dodgy back and a lack of talent has led to him reluctantly hanging up his racing wheels for good and trying to find pleasure in taking it a bit more easy on the bike. Having contributed to The Face, Arena and the Tokyo Journal in the 1990s, Alex now enjoys writing about all aspects of cycling.
2025-07-08 11:53:15 - In just four short years, the ENVE Stone Circle has cemented its status as one of the premier events on the UK gravel calendar. We sent Alex and Pete to find out whether...
2025-06-09 10:24:59 - My bike is filthy and making strange creaking sounds. My calves are taut and strained, and my thighs burn like barbecue sausages ready to burst. But it's my backside...
2025-04-10 14:02:09 - If you're looking for a cycling challenge on a sun-kissed island with near deserted roads, the Sicily Divide could be perfect. Devised by a couple of bikepackers -...
2024-08-26 12:14:50 - The Kenda Alluvium Pro is a gravel and adventure tyre that is claimed to be as capable on pavement as it is on hard single-track trails. Designed with speed in mind for...
2024-08-21 11:42:03 - When I was offered the chance to test the new Galaxy ALIBI Sunglasses from KOO Eyewear, I was at first a little reluctant. Wraparound shades have always conjured up...
2022-02-21 15:26:39 - The Cushion-Aid SaddleDonut is a novel attempt at solving the original 'pain-in-the-arse' problem that has plagued cyclists since the days of the penny-farthing and the...
2021-11-16 11:27:57 - Rouleur, the creators of every cyclist's favourite jazz-mag, certainly know how to put on a show. Running from November 3rd-5th, Rouleur Live promised to bring their...
2021-10-06 10:21:02 - In part one of his report on the first King's Cup Gravel Festival, a hard, dry, flat course through the Kings Forest in Suffolk saw elite athletes Alistair Brownlee and...
2021-09-28 12:55:05 - The Kings Cup Gravel Festival, originally scheduled for last autumn, finally took place on the weekend of the 18th-19th September 2021. The event promised an unusual...
2021-08-16 11:08:23 - In case you haven't noticed, the latest trend in cycling is to carry shed-loads of stuff with you everywhere you go. To help with this, cycling shorts have grown little...
2021-06-28 11:56:12 - The Glorious Gravel team have been busy during lockdown putting together a series of rides up and down the country for 2021. We sent Alex along on one of them to see how...
2021-03-19 22:28:06 - The long-running bromance between cycling and coffee has brewed up a new lovechild. Amunra Pure Performance Coffee is a brand-new coffee, developed by sports scientists...
2021-01-04 15:34:37 - I've got to the point in life where I don't want to ever have to buy certain items again. A combination of being well into my middle age and having a bit more spare cash...
2020-12-21 14:05:51 - It's hard to get excited about a bike lock. Bike security is like contraception - you don't really want to have to think or talk about it coz it's going to spoil the...
2020-12-08 15:06:00 - My eyes lit up when I was offered the chance to review the new Proviz Classic Endurance Cycling Jersey. For a while now I've marvelled at the popular grey Proviz jackets...
2020-10-12 11:23:50 - If you've ever taken part in a spin-class you'll know that an eclectic mix of banging techno at volume eleven paired with breezy ambient pop can help distract the mind...
2020-07-23 10:37:22 - The Tour de France may be on hold this year due to the Covid pandemic, but thanks to Giles Belbin's new book fans have a chance to refresh their knowledge of recent...
2020-07-06 11:45:24 - The Adventure Series is a set of bike bags from online retailer Wiggle's house brand Lifeline. They are aimed at the price-conscious commuter who wants to carry luggage...
2020-06-25 12:05:45 - Wiggle's in-house clothing brand, dhb is fast becoming a monster in the world of cycle clothing - desperate to devour all competition - as it releases yet another niche...