Cover Story: Short rides may be the mainstay of your cycling, but it's the long ones that you remember. There's something special about riding through the dawn, hearing the thrum of your tyres, watching the sky turn from grey to ochre to blue; about putting in 60,70 or 100 or more miles. In 'The longest day' (page eight), 100 miles is just the beginning... Our two first-timers were after nearly five times that in the National 24-hour Time Trial Championship. Find out how they got on, fighting fatigue, discomfort and the dreaded 'knock'. And if you fancy a crack at a big TT next year, here's everything you need to know. If touring's more your cup of tea, check out Ben Searle's Icelandic tour on page 42. Most people go to Iceland to see hot springs, fjords or volcanoes. Not Ben. With his partner Jade, he set off across the interior, one of the most desolate landscapes in Europe... Of course, you don't have to attack Iceland or race for 24 hours to feel satisfied by your cycling. Any tour can be an expedition. And any long ride will leave you warm with the afterglow of a day well spent.      

FEATURES:
The longest day - Dawn breaks 300 miles into your ride, and hours of cycling still lie ahead. Join us for one of toughest time trials in Britain
Riding rollers - Learn how (and why) to ride rollers in this month's Skill School
The professionals - Go behind the scenes of pro racing as Steve Thomas rides shotgun with Team Ambrosia
Party politics - Since when were traffic congestion and pollution cause for celebration?
A view from the pack - Meet the longest serving, longest suffering pro on the circuit, and find out about life out of the limelight
Call of the wild - Ben Searle goes on an expedition across the interior of Iceland, through vast open spaces and kit-destroying volcanic grit

TECHNICAL:
Workshop - Adjusting and replacing brake and gear cables
Q&A - We solve your technical problems
Greg Fuquay - The modern frame shop
Retro - The history of the Raleigh Lenton
DIY frame-building - Hilary Stone takes a frame-building course in the heart of Wales with Swallow Cycles

BODY SHOP:
Nutrition - Breakfast like a king
Training - Preparing yourself for long-distance TTs
Body Q&A - Your physiological questions answered

DEPARTMENTS:
News
Letters
Calendar
Cycling Plus subscriptions
Back issues;
Noticeboard

TESTBENCH - Another trawl through the cycling shop window
CLASSIC BRITISH BIKES - Fancy lug bikes like the Hetahins, Bates and Mercian are still being built. We test them
GROUPTEST - Five turbo trainers for off-season cycling
TOURING BIKE TEST - We put the £725 Orbit Gold Medal through its paces
KITBAG - Winter gloves that work even better than rubber gloves worn over woollen ones