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
Review | 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
Review | 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
Review | All-City Super Professional Sora is a capable commuter with one spec flaw
Striking steel all-rounder for city streets and well beyond
Best bike saddle bags in 2025 for your cycling essentials
Small saddlebags to carry your riding essentials
Review | Specialized Roubaix SL8 Sport 105
Endurance machine with comfort-boosting front suspension
Review | Basso Venta R 105
Italian style and endurance with a pretty racy edge
Review | Merida Scultura Endurance 4000
German-designed distance-friendly all-rounder at a good price
Review | Genesis Croix de Fer 10 Flat Bar
Cyclocross-influenced flat-bar bike for commuting and more…
Review | Trek FX 3 Disc Equipped
Single-ring hybrid with Shimano Deore and all the extras as standard
Review | Ridgeback Expedition
Adventure-flavoured machine for tough commutes and big adventures
Review | Specialized Sirrus X 3.0
Single-ring aluminium machine with all-road and gravel ambitions
Review | Ridley Kanzo A GRX 400
Commuter and gravel companion for big days out – whatever the surface
Review | Cube Attain SLX
Borderline racy road bike with comfort in mind and room for mudguards
Review | Cannondale Synapse 1
A comfortable fender-friendly all-rounder
Review | FLR F11 XD Knit road shoes
Little sibling of FLR’s pro-level road and triathlon shoes
Review | Boardman Road Cycle Shoes
Road shoes with a low price but no obvious compromises
Review | Pinnacle Radium Road Cycling Shoes
Slightly quirky looks, but there's nothing wrong with the ride
Review | Giro Cadet Road Cycling Shoes
Distinctive looks and a carbon-reinforced sole
Review | Bontrager Solstice Road Cycling Shoe
Simple shoes that do the straightforward stuff well
Review | Shimano RC1 Road Cycling Shoe
Budget shoes from the component king
Review | Van Rysel RoadR 900 Full Carbon Road Cycling Shoe
Twin dial closures and a carbon sole at a cut-down price
Cannondale Bad Boy 2 review
Super-stylish urban hybrid with distinctive Lefty fork
Review | Spa Cycles Audax
Mile-munching endurance bike that’s well set up for year-round, long-distance commuting
Review | Trek Dual Sport 2 Equipped Gen 5
Fully equipped Euro-style trekking bike that’ll tackle rough-road commuting