The Lake District Loop Wins Britain’s Best Ride

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Cycling Plus, the UK’s best selling cycling magazine and leading authority in road cycling, have announced that Britain’s Best Ride 2013 is a 40-mile loop of the stunning Lake District.

Halfords, Boardman Bikes and Cycling Plus asked magazine readers and social network fans to nominate the road rides they felt should take the crown. Shortlists were then voted on by the public before five finalists were selected and then ridden by the magazine’s editorial team, led by Rob Spedding. These rides were filmed and can be viewed here.

With the winning ride voted for by the readers of Cycling Plus, The Lake District Loop, nominated by Barrow-in-Furness based James Hodgson, was the worthy winner. The 40-mile route was described as a “tough and very lumpy cookie that takes in the beautiful Coniston Water and the immensely challenging Wrynose Pass” by Cycling Plus.

Olympic Champion, Chris Boardman (MBE) says, "This has been an amazing series unearthing routes that show this small country has some of the very best and diverse riding to be found anywhere in the world. Any of these routes is worth a visit but especially that of our very worthy winner"

Rob Spedding, Editor of Cycling Plus, says "Over 2000 Cycling Plus readers and social media fans took part in our vote to choose Britain's Best Ride so James Hodgson's loop around the beautiful Lake District thoroughly deserves the accolade. The ride beat off some extremely tough competition but I'm not surprised - it's got everything – stunning scenery, quiet roads and, in Wrynose Pass, a proper cycling challenge!"

The other finalists were Yorkshire Dales, Barnstable in North Devon, Elan Valley on Wales and Applecross in North Scotland. James wins a Boardman road bike courtesy of Halfords and has chosen to auction his prize to raise funds for the St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston, Cumbria.

Watch the videos: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhX4qGpWXV9uhmuNwOgrmnUgbKzz8lqmC

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For more information please contact Ben Pester, Communications Manager at ben.pester@futurenet.com or 0207 042 4035 and 07737 138 384

Editors Notes:

About Future plc

Future plc is an international media group and leading digital business, listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR). Future has been named Consumer Digital Publisher of the Year for three years in a row by the Association of Online Publishers (2011, 2012, 2013) and has been named the Professional Publishers Association Digital Publisher of the Year for two consecutive years (2012, 2013). Future is also the British Media Awards Media Company of the Year. We have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating more than 200 publications, apps, websites and events. We hold market-leading positions in Technology, Games, Guitar, Creative and Sport & Auto sectors. We attract 58 million monthly global unique users to our websites, which include techradar.com, gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com and musicradar.com. Future sold more than 19 million magazines last year, that’s 37 magazines sold every minute. Our most well-known brands include T3, Cycling Plus, Total Film, Mollie Makes and Xbox: The Official Magazine. Future has developed its own app-creation software, FutureFolio. We produce over 100 digital editions, and have sold over 5 million digital issues in the last year. Future exports or syndicates 218 publications to over 92 countries, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of magazine content. Follow Future plc on Twitter at www.twitter.com/futureplc and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/future-publishing 

About Halfords:

Halfords is the UK's leading retailer of cycling products. Customers shop at over 460 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland and at halfords.com for pick-up at their local store or direct home delivery.

Own brands include Apollo and Carrera cycles, augmented by exclusive UK distribution rights for the premium-ranged Boardman cycles and accessories. 

Halfords offers a free build and six week safety check on all bikes sold.  Giving customers expert advice and a "werepair" service.

About Boardman Bikes:

Launched in 2007 and co-founded by Chris Boardman MBE, Alan Ingarfield (Chairman) & Sarah Mooney (CEO) and has since become the fastest growing British bike brand successfully retailing across the globe.

Chris Boardman MBE 

Chris Boardman exploded onto the international cycling scene at the Barcelona Olympics in '92, where he captured the imagination of the British public by winning Gold in the 4,000m pursuit (the first cycling Gold medal for 72 years). After Barcelona, Chris's career went from

strength-to-strength - x3 wearer of the TdF yellow jersey ('maillot jeune'),triple world champion and holder of the world hour record. Working for British Cycling as R&D Director, he has been instrumental in the success of British Cycling and been an inspiration to young cyclists - worldwide.

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