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The CSD reading stop

Blog Spot.

A little reading
between rides.

For planning a trip, putting your feet up after a ride, or finding a very good reason to procrastinate.

Nick, Kristian and Ed at the top of Passo Sella, Italy
Nick, Kristian & Ed · Passo Sella, Italy
02 / Bring back a story

Races & ride stories

The event, the unexpected moment and what you’d do differently.

Read race & ride stories
03 / Pass it on

Tips & tricks

Useful things learned on the road, at home and somewhere in between.

Explore tips & tricks
From the CSD community

People. Places.
Reasons to ride.

Start with three familiar faces and the stories they’ve already shared with CSD. Real experiences, in their own words, shaped into a short read.

Amanda with the Rovers Cycling Club group in Eastbourne
Where Are They Now? · Eastbourne

Amanda: from Al Qudra to the South Downs.

A decade of CSD rides, lasting friendships and a new chapter in England.

Read Amanda’s story
Erik racing around the track during his CSD years
Where Are They Now? · South Africa

Erik: fast rides and lasting friendships.

Early CSD memories, the Cape Epic and getting back on the bike.

Read Erik’s story
Ron enjoying a favourite Spinneys cycling memory
Where Are They Now? · Melbourne

Ron: still riding, still coming back.

Favourite rides, familiar faces—and a good reason to stop for coffee and cake.

Read Ron’s story
The travel notebook

Out of office.
On the bike.

The useful details are often the ones you only discover when you get there.

Where you stayed. How you got the bike from the airport. The café you went back to. The route you’d happily ride twice.

Whether it’s a cycling holiday or a pilot making the most of a stopover, those first-hand notes can help someone else plan their next ride.

Tell us about your trip
Stewart and crew cycling in Bormio, Italy
Stewart & crew · Bormio, Italy

Worth putting in the notebook

The journey

When you went, how long you stayed and what the weather was like.

The practical bits

Bike-friendly stays, transfers, hire, shops and getting out on the road.

The ride

Memorable places, route links, GPX files and stops worth sharing.

The honest verdict

What you’d repeat, what you’d change and whether you’d go back.

Races & ride stories

More than a
finish-line photo.

A first event, a long day out or the ride you’re still talking about.

The preparation, the people, the moments that surprised you—and the things you wish you’d known at the start. Share what happened, in as much or as little detail as you like.

Cyclists crossing the line at the Cape Argus Pick & Pay in Cape Town
Cape Argus Pick & Pay · Cape Town, South Africa
Two cyclists beside The Suikerbossie sign in Cape Town
“That climb” · The Suikerbossie
Aerial view of cyclists filling the streets at the Cape Argus Pick & Pay in Cape Town
Cape Argus Pick & Pay · Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town photographs courtesy of Lena & Steve.

Tips & tricks

Small things.
Better rides.

Practical ideas from Nick and the community. Start with CSD’s existing guides while you plan your next outing.

Before you roll

Getting started

Preparation, equipment and joining a group.

Read the guide
Away from home

Visiting Dubai

Local answers for your cycling trip.

Read the guide
Between rides

Fitness & recovery

Browse CSD’s fitness and health FAQs.

Read the guide
Your experience. Your story.

You don’t need
to be a writer.

Have a trip, race or useful tip to share? Speak to Nick about contributing.

Don’t worry if you’re not Chekhov or Hemingway, we’ll assist with gathering your thoughts and ideas together. But don’t forget we need some pictures and maybe your social posts.

We’ll check unclear details with you and agree what can be shared, keeping the story true to your experience.

Contact Nick about a story