Welcome to the February issue of the best cycling magazine
Where winter grit meets the first true signals of a new cycling season. This is the time of year when base miles meet big ambitions, when cold roads and muddy trails collide with growing excitement for what lies ahead in the global cycling calendar.
February has a unique energy in the world of cycling. Legs are still heavy, winter weather still has teeth, but anticipation is everywhere. From the drama of the Cyclo-cross World Championships to sun-drenched Mediterranean stage races and the first nervous glances toward the cobbled Classics, this is the month where training turns into racing and preparation turns into performance.
In this issue of BIKE — the best cycling magazine for riders who live and breathe the sport — we embrace that momentum. Our in-depth guide to February’s professional cycling racing gives you a front-row seat to one of the most action-packed months of the year. Across Europe, the Middle East and beyond, we cover Iberian stage races, Gulf showdowns and Belgium’s iconic Opening Weekend. Whether you follow pro cycling for form guides, fantasy leagues, or pure passion, this is essential reading for cycling fans.
But the best cycling magazine is about more than watching from the sofa. We celebrate the rides that happen far from TV cameras too. Our feature on Markus Stitz’s Norwegian winter expedition is a powerful reminder that the off-season is only off-season if you choose it to be. Snow, short days and sub-zero temperatures become new terrain — demanding different skills, building deeper resilience, and delivering a uniquely rewarding kind of riding. It’s a story of endurance, adventure cycling and the quiet magic of winter riding.
Elsewhere in this issue, we explore cycling destinations across the globe. From the Alps to New Zealand, from gravel riding through olive groves to island-hopping bike adventures, and from big-mountain gran fondos in Piedmont to bucket-list trail riding at the far end of the world. These stories showcase cycling as the ultimate passport — to new places, new people and new versions of yourself that only emerge when there’s a ride on the horizon.
As spring approaches, February is your launchpad. It’s the month to sharpen your fitness, finalise your cycling goals, and start saying yes to the rides you’ve been postponing. Whether that means lining up for your first race of the season, planning a summer cycling trip, or committing to riding through winter’s last stand, this issue of the best cycling magazine is here to light the fuse.
Thank you, as always, for riding with us.
See you on the road,
Nick Branxton
Editor, BIKE Magazine — the best cycling magazine for riders, racers and adventurers
