Author Simon Withers
Simon Withers

Simon Withers

Contributor

Simon Withers is a freelance cycling writer and bike tester. He has been cycling for as long as he can remember, and more seriously since his time at university in the 1980s. Simon has ridden and raced almost every type of bike over the years and has toured extensively in Asia and Australasia, including riding solo 2,900km from Cairns to Melbourne. He’s been testing bikes and working for BikeRadar and Cycling Plus in various capacities for two decades. Simon has ridden and reviewed countless bikes and products, and specialises in affordable road bikes, gravel bikes and cycling kit, helping riders understand what’s really worth their hard-earned money.

Recent articles by Simon Withers
Genesis Tour de Fer 20 gravel bike

Genesis Tour de Fer 20 is a comfortable commuter that could take you round the world

Fully equipped for the ride to work, grand days out and more – at an attractive price
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Cinelli Zydeco Bootleg gravel bike

Cinelli Zydeco Bootleg is a stylish commuter that's £300 cheaper than a year ago

Quirkily styled high-end hybrid with bags of practical features
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All-City Super Professional Sora road bike

All-City Super Professional Sora is a capable commuter with one spec flaw

Striking steel all-rounder for city streets and well beyond
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Collage showing bike saddlebags attached to saddles.

Best bike saddle bags in 2025 for your cycling essentials

Small saddlebags to carry your riding essentials
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Specialized Roubaix SL8 Sport 105 road bike

Specialized Roubaix SL8 Sport 105

Endurance machine with comfort-boosting front suspension
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Pack shot of the Basso Venta R 105 road bike

Basso Venta R 105

Italian style and endurance with a pretty racy edge
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pack shot of the Merida Scultura Endurance 4000 road bike

Merida Scultura Endurance 4000

German-designed distance-friendly all-rounder at a good price
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Genesis Croix de Fer 10 Flat Bar commuter bike

Genesis Croix de Fer 10 Flat Bar

Cyclocross-influenced flat-bar bike for commuting and more…
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Trek FX 3 Disc Equipped commuter bike

Trek FX 3 Disc Equipped

Single-ring hybrid with Shimano Deore and all the extras as standard
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Ridgeback Expedition commuter bike

Ridgeback Expedition

Adventure-flavoured machine for tough commutes and big adventures
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Specialized Sirrus X 3.0 commuter bike

Specialized Sirrus X 3.0

Single-ring aluminium machine with all-road and gravel ambitions
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Pack shot of the Ridley Kanzo A GRX 400 gravel bike

Ridley Kanzo A GRX 400

Commuter and gravel companion for big days out – whatever the surface
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Pack shot of the Cube Attain SLX road bike

Cube Attain SLX

Borderline racy road bike with comfort in mind and room for mudguards
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Pack shot of the Cannondale Synapse 1 road bike

Cannondale Synapse 1

A comfortable fender-friendly all-rounder
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FLR F11 XD Knit road shoe

FLR F11 XD Knit road shoes

Little sibling of FLR’s pro-level road and triathlon shoes
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Boardman Road Cycle Shoes

Boardman Road Cycle Shoes

Road shoes with a low price but no obvious compromises
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Pinnacle Radium Road Cycling Shoes

Pinnacle Radium Road Cycling Shoes

Slightly quirky looks, but there's nothing wrong with the ride
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Giro Cadet Road Cycling Shoes

Giro Cadet Road Cycling Shoes

Distinctive looks and a carbon-reinforced sole
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Bontrager Solstice Road Cycling Shoe

Bontrager Solstice Road Cycling Shoe

Simple shoes that do the straightforward stuff well
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Shimano RC1 Road Cycling Shoe

Shimano RC1 Road Cycling Shoe

Budget shoes from the component king
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Van Rysel RoadR 900 Full Carbon Road Cycling Shoe

Van Rysel RoadR 900 Full Carbon Road Cycling Shoe

Twin dial closures and a carbon sole at a cut-down price
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Pack shot of the Cannondale Bad Boy 2 urban bike

Cannondale Bad Boy 2 review

Super-stylish urban hybrid with distinctive Lefty fork
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Pack shot of the Spa Cycles Audax urban/road bike

Spa Cycles Audax

Mile-munching endurance bike that’s well set up for year-round, long-distance commuting
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Pack shot of the Trek Dual Sport 2 Equipped Gen 5 urban/road bike

Trek Dual Sport 2 Equipped Gen 5

Fully equipped Euro-style trekking bike that’ll tackle rough-road commuting
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