Why “Midtech”?
Before this site was a blog, Midtech Cycles was a small, premium bike repair service based in the Peaks. I worked on good bikes for people who cared about the details — and I sold high‑end pre‑waxed chains back when that still felt slightly niche rather than inevitable.
When I decided to have what can only be described as a midlife crisis, I shut the business down — but I kept the domain. Somewhere along the way I decided I wanted to be a school teacher, picked up a Master’s degree in Literature in 2020, and now teach secondary English in a Derbyshire school.
The bikes never really went away, though. Neither did the thinking, the fettling, or the need to make sense of long, difficult projects.
This blog is what Midtech became after all that.Midtech Cycles is a gravel cycling blog about turning up, doing the work, and being honest about how hard that can be.
I’m a 55‑year‑old rider based in the Peak District, carrying more weight than most cyclists you see on Instagram and riding terrain that seems to think flat roads are a design flaw. This blog exists to document my attempt to get fitter, lighter, and stronger while training for long‑distance gravel events — most notably the Dolby Devil 160 km and, ultimately, the Glorious Gravel Kielder Triple Crown (200 km) in August 2026.
This isn’t a place for miracle gains, sponsored hype, or perfectly filtered rides. It’s about real miles on real roads and tracks, ridden by a very real, very human cyclist.
What You’ll Find Here
🚴 Weekly Ride Reports
Outdoor gravel, indoor trainer sessions, and the occasional road ride — with honest reflections on what the data says and how it actually felt.
📊 Training, Fitness & Recovery
Thoughts on pacing, climbing, endurance, injury recovery, and what training looks like when you’re over 50 and still learning.
⚙️ Gear I Actually Use
Gravel bikes, wheelsets, tyres, and kit that work for heavier riders and rough terrain — including long‑term impressions, not just first rides.
🧠Reflections from the Middle of the Pack
The mental side of cycling: motivation, setbacks, cold feet (sometimes literally), and why average speeds don’t tell the whole story.
Why “Midtech”?
Because that’s exactly where I sit.
Not elite. Not entry‑level. Not chasing KOMs — but not just pottering about either. I care about numbers, but I care more about sustainability. I want to ride further, climb better, and still enjoy turning the pedals a year from now.
If you’re an older rider, a heavier rider, returning from injury, or just quietly working away at your own goals, you’ll probably recognise a lot of yourself here.
The Long‑Term Goal
The big aim is simple on paper and hard in practice:
200 km of gravel at Kielder in under 12 hours.
Everything on this site — the rides, the training notes, the gear choices, and the mistakes — feeds into that goal.
Pull Up a Chair
If you ride gravel in less‑than‑perfect conditions, train around work and life, or believe progress is built slowly and honestly, you’re very welcome here.
Have a read. Leave a comment. Disagree politely. Or just take something useful for your own riding.
This is a long road — and I’m documenting every mile of it.
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