Because Points Make Prizes
Introducing our Pavé Points loyalty scheme.
We’ve decided to start a loyalty scheme to reward you, our customers. Pavé Points can be earned by the following methods:
- For every pound you spend on our website – you earn yourself a point.
- Write a product review – earn 50 points.
- Sign up for an account on our site – earn 100 points.
When you’ve got 250 points you can get £5 off your next order. The more you spend, the more you can get back.
To accrue and bank your points you have to open an account with us which is free and easy to do. Don’t forget members of our Riders Club get a 10% discount of all orders via our website.
Factory Visit – Restrap
The White Peak Wander
The White Peak Wander is a 100 mile bikepacking route in the south of the Peak District National Park.
Ideally ridden over two days, the route is mainly on bridleways, country lanes and disused railway tracks.
We’d recommend using a hardtail MTB for this route – there will be a fair bit of hike-a-bike if you choose to use a gravel bike. The White Peak is often overlooked by mountain bikers who tend to gravitate towards the Dark Peak and Hope Valley. However there are a myriad of quiet trails and pretty villages to explore
The route starts in the middle of Matlock close to the railway station so there’s no need to drive to the start.
When I recce’d the route I camped at the YHA in Castleton which is just off the northern end of the route.
If you like our routes, a virtual coffee wouldn’t go a miss.
Completing the circle – are ATB’s the new gravel bikes ?
Have we completed the circle – Are ATB’s the new gravel ?Back in the mid-eighties I bought my first mountain bike – a Raleigh Montage. Way back then mountain bikes were still finding their way and had a bit of an identity crisis, partially due to the lack of proper mountains in many parts of the world and they were occasionally called all terrain bikes or ATB’s. The French still use the term VTT or Vélo Tout Terrain to describe them.
Back then mountain bikes were rather crude affairs. The geometry and frame were very similar to a hybrid bike, there was no suspension and the brakes were cantilever brakes which were popular on touring bikes at the time. The tyres were a tad chunkier than on a racing bike with 1.75” width if you were lucky.
Fast forward around 20 years and the likes of Specialized brought do it all models such as out the Tricross. It was a bit longer and more relaxed than a cyclocross bike and you could fit wider tyres. This slowly evolved into gravel bikes as we know it with disc brakes being borrowed from MTB’s, 1x drivetrains and wider tyres.
Meanwhile in the background brands such as Salsa and Surly were developing bikes in the background which were MTB’s with rigid forks for the bikepacking market which at the time was quite a niche pastime. Think of the SUV of the bike world, think of the original ATB with slacker angles, bigger tyres and better brakes..
We’re now at a stage where many gravel bikes have the capacity to take wider tyres that are a lot chunkier than the original mountain bikes. I think this is not only driven by marketing and the need to sell more bikes but riders are pushing the boundaries of where they want to take their bikes, finding many trails a bit tame for their liking.
Here’s the bit where I take a punt at the future and stick my neck out. I think that the market share of ATB’s will grow exponentially. They are slower on the road than a gravel bike, but many riders try and avoid roads. They have a rugged image that will appeal to a certain kind of rider and they have the potential to allow you to explore more. With the lack of suspension they are simpler to maintain than a MTB and many are designed to carry bikepacking luggage with additional mounting points.
Being a bit of a geek and sometime early adopter I thought I’d ask ChatGPT for it’s take on it. Here’s the answer after I told it what ATB stood for:
“Ah, I see. Thank you for clarifying. Yes, “ATB” stands for All Terrain Bike, which typically refers to a bicycle designed to handle various off-road terrains. On the other hand, “gravel bikes” are designed specifically for riding on unpaved gravel roads or mixed terrains.
While there are similarities between ATBs and gravel bikes in terms of their ability to handle diverse terrain, they are not necessarily the same. Gravel bikes are specifically optimized for gravel riding, with features such as wider tires, more relaxed geometry, and additional clearance for mud and debris. They often have drop handlebars like road bikes, but with more stability and comfort for off-road riding.
ATBs, on the other hand, are designed for a broader range of off-road terrains, including mountain biking trails. They typically have knobby tires, suspension systems (either front suspension or full suspension), and more aggressive geometries for tackling rough trails and technical obstacles.
While some riders may choose to use ATBs for gravel riding, the term “gravel bike” has gained popularity to describe a specific type of bicycle optimized for gravel roads and mixed-surface adventures. Gravel bikes offer a balance of speed, comfort, and versatility, making them well-suited for long-distance gravel rides, bikepacking, and exploring unpaved routes.
Ultimately, whether ATBs can be considered the “new” gravel bike depends on the specific context and how people are using the term. Gravel bikes have gained a dedicated following and continue to evolve with specialized features, so they remain a distinct category within the cycling world”.
It does feel to an extent as though we have gone the full circle with the ride of the ATB.
Park Patrol
The Park Patrol route is what you get when you combine our Transpennine Express, Trail Dog and Return of the Mac Routes. It used a selection of the areas former railway routes that have been converted into multi user trails.
The Transpennine Express
The Transpennine Express is a two day (or really hard one day) route that starts at Sheffield railway station and heads over the roof of England and back. From the centre of one of the UK’s largest city the route heads westwards and makes it’s way up into the Peak District. It doesn’t take long […]
Trail Dog
One of many popular attractions in the Peak District national park are there collection of disused railways that have been converted into multi user trails. Starting at Matlock, the Trail Dog route takes in the High Peak, Tissington Trails and the lesser used White Peak Link.
There’s a fairly hefty climb near the start from High Peak Junction which will get you puffing like one of the steam trains that used to run on the line. The High Peak Trail was built in 1825 to take cotton from the nearby mills over the Pennines to the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge. It was built before trains were commonly in existence and was originally horse drawn. At the top you can see the beam engine which was used to haul the carriages up the incline.
From there we follow the trail to just beyond Pratt Hall and follow a track over to Biggin and join the Tissington Trail. You then head northwards to rejoin the High Peak Trail again and follow it to the end.
The route then crosses the Buxton – Ashbourne road and heads across the closest thing that the area has to Strada Bianche. After crossing the A6 at Taddington and passing through Blackwell you have the choice of descending straight down the paved road to Millers Dale or if you are feeling a bit more adventurous down the gnarmac descent -Long Lane.
At Millers Dale join the Monsal Trail and follow it to the end passing though several tunnels that have been cut though the valley. At the end drop down to the road and head away from Bakewell up Coombes Dale. From the top descend into Rowsley and join the White Peak Link. Follow this as far as Darley Dale. Then cross the River Derwent and take the former coaching route through Snitterton back to the start.
If you like this route why not join the Velotastic Riders Club for more routes, store discounts and more.
The Ladybower Loop
The reservoirs of the Upper Derwent Valley are popular with mountain bikers but there’s also some rather nice gravel to be had there. This route starts and finishes at Bamford Railway Station so there’s no excuse not to leave the car at home.
The route heads up the Thornhill trail which is a former railway that was used to transport the piano sized blocks of stone that were used in the building of the dams from Bamford up the valley.
You then head around the south side of the Ladybower Reservoir towards the Snake Pass. After crossing the road (take care) head steeply up the hillside at Hagg Farm. Continue over pastures and head back down to the Ladybower Reservoirs.
Follow the road around the edge of the Ladybower, Derwent and Howden reservoirs which were used as a training site for the Dambusters in World War 2.
When you rejoin the bottom of the Snake Pass at Ashopton there is a bike lane on the opposite side of the road that will save you mixing it with the traffic. At Yorkshire Bridge turn left and head up New Road which traverses the hillside .Enjoy the views up and down the Hope Valley whilst you are plodding slowly upwards.
At the top drop downwards towards Hathersage and after a short distance follow Gatehouse Lane back to Bamford.
Members of our Riders Club get access to event more of our routes. Why not join today ?
Long Term Test – Inside Line Equipment Porteur Bag
I tend to ride or use public transport whenever possible. Not only am I trying to do my bit to mitigate the effects of climate change, but I just don’t enjoy driving. As a result my daily ride is a 12 year old Kona Smoke that is used for commuting, daily errands and taking Velotastic orders to the post office. I’ve usually got a fair bit of kit that’s on my every day carry list – a hefty bike lock, a few tools, a few extra clothes, bike tools and inner tube to name but a few. I need a bag to carry all of these items in and that’s where the ILE Porteur rack bag comes into play.
Strength and simplicity
Inside Line Equipment started in 2012 in Berkley, California. All of their bags are designed with strength and simplicity in mind. A lot of thought has gone into their products and it shows. Their bags are all made in house from USA sourced materials where possible.
Whats in the bag ?
I’ve been using the ILE Porteur bag since 2020. It straps onto the front rack on my bike.It’s available in two sizes – regular and small. Both have a different footprint size so that you can mount them to a range of racks. The bag attaches to the rack using a couple of straps that go all the way underneath. The regular bag has a couple of extra pockets on the back which face the rider. I tend to put my keys and my mobile in one of these. They are big enough for a mini d-lock though.
Inside the top flap on both bags are a pair of tie down straps that can be used to increase the bag’s capacity. The inner main compartment has a RF welded TPU liner to keep everything dry.
The smaller bag has a 16 litre capacity when rolled down and water tight and 30 litres when using the straps. The regular bag can carry a whopping 42 litres when using the straps.
Any weather
I’ve been using the bag in all weathers and as long as you roll the bag shut it keeps the contents of the main compartment nice and dry. One of the great things is I can carry parcels to the top of the main compartment. This is great as it means I don’t have to unpack my bag to carry extra stuff. Despite of a couple of years of use and abuse, the bag still looks in great shape.
If I’m leaving my bike somewhere I can take the bag off and carry it around with me. Included with the regular bag is a shoulder strap and tote handle. The smaller bag comes with the shoulder strap only. I just take the bag off and clip the straps underneath together and I’m ready to go.
Whilst you do need a front rack to use this bag it’s a great investment if you do a lot of commuting. It also frees up space on my rear rack to carry more items.
Buy Now
Long Term Test Review – Road Runner Jammer Bag
I’ve been using the Road Runner Jammer bag for just over a year now and I thought I’d share my thoughts on how it’s been.
One of the benefits of being the owner of Velotastic is that I get the pick of the products that I sell to use when I’m out on my bike. It’s a great position to be in, but I have to be careful not to chose them all as it would cost me a fortune !
I’ve been using the Road Runner Burrito Supreme bag for a few years now. It’s a great bag, but I was after something a bit bigger for when I am guiding as I’m not a big fan of riding with rucksacks.
There’s three bags in Road Runners rolltop range – the Jammer, Middle Earth Jammer and Jumbo Jammer all with increasing amounts of capacity. I decided to go for the smallest in the range – the Jammer.
In the bag I can easily fit a survival bag, bothy bag, first aid kit, food, waterproof and extra clothes. On the external pockets I have some snacks, a whistle and a pocket to spare. This gets all this weight off my shoulders and onto my bike.
Fitting the bag
The bag attaches to the bike using three straps – two on the handlebars and one round the head tube. It’s very easy to swap between bikes. It can also be used as a saddle bag if you have suitable mounts but I’ve not tried that yet.
One of the things I did end up modifying on the bag are the bar straps. I’ve fitted Voile straps instead of the standard bar straps that come with the bag. I find these easier to fasten on and off the bike which is really handy in cold weather when you don’t want to take your gloves off.
I’ve not had any problems with the bag trapping any cables on either my gravel or mountain bike.
When the bag is fitted to the handlebars it tends to dip towards the headtube. With smaller frames this can be an issue as the bag may rub against the front tyre. This is something I’ve encountered when I’ve been using the bigger Jumbo Jammer bag. To remedy it you can wrap the compression straps around the handlebars or alternatively fit a decaleur such as the Restrap Bumper bar.
Capacity
The bag is top opening and has a nice wide aperture to get all your stuff in. I was initially concerned that as I run a GPS that sits in front of the bars on whether that was going to stop me getting into the bag, but it’s not been an issue so far.
With it having a roll top it’s easy to create a little more extra space if needed for extras like waterproofs. The roll top does a great job of keeping the bag water resistant . I’ve used the bag in all weathers and so far it’s kept the contents nice and dry.
In conclusion
Would I recommend the Jammer Bag ? Yes. I know it’s not cheap, but it’s handmade and built to last and ought to viewed as an investment. I find it far easier riding without a rucksack and the Jammer has more than ample capacity for longer day rides.
The Return of the Mac
For this route we explore the western side of the Peak District venturing across the border from Derbyshire into Cheshire via the Macclesfield forest. The route has to fairly substantial climbs in it – the fist one at the beginning up to the top of the Cat and Fiddle via a mix of tracks and […]
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