Start 2025 with an adventure!

A celebration of cycling - with Lake!

As we ride into another year of cycling adventures, we can look back on those extra-special places that will always be on the riding calendar, long into the future. For me, living on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and close to the North Yorks Moors National Park, I’m truly lucky, I know. Both in terms of road cycling and off-road riding, I have a wealth of choices, from some of the best cycling routes in the world.

It’s also a great place to live when you write about and test cycling shoes – which is one of my key roles here at Lake. There’s a particular ride that I wanted to share with you as we enter 2025; and it’s a ride that you can also travel to do yourself. A week spent cycling here would be an epic holiday – especially with our Lake cycling shoes on your feet! It’s kind of my go to ride when I’m trying out new shoe models, or testing bikes for brands, or when I simply want to find some peace and to reflect on life, spending time in nature.

Take yourself trail riding

Whilst gravel bike riding is still in the ascendency, trail riding on a full suspension mountain bike still takes some beating. Wrapping myself up in some warm winter cycling gear and choosing my Lake winter socks and MX238 mountain biking shoes, I’m ready to ride anything thrown at me, as I park up at a small and isolated hamlet in the Dales, known as Dallowgill. It’s a historical farming community, close to one of the top hotels in the world – Swinton Park, and a truly beautiful area for adventure. With the MX238 on my feet, and riding my Orbea Oiz team edition bike, the rocky and technical trail and its fast and tricky descents await me, and I always set off with a smile on my face – today, accompanied by my son.

If Christmas and the New Year holiday period is meant to be a time for families, then riding out into the isolated hills with your kids is a great choice for anyone. We initially climb up to the ridge, which overlooks the Upper Nidderdale valley, and the MX238 shoes are precise on the pedals, with the 100% carbon fiber sole ensuring that all our hard work is transferred into forward momentum. The shoes are precise on the pedals too, and they need to be, with loose stones, dust and technical rock sections all around us. Then, it’s time to light the afterburners, as we set the Orbea Oiz free on one of the best mountain bike descents in the Dales National Park – heading down towards to the village of Ramsgill, on a route that my friend, Lee Williams (a former national champion) absolutely loves.

Technical shoes for traversing the hills

Moving now across the technical and loose trails towards the top of Lofthouse Bank – a famed local road climb) - the stability of the MX238 comes into its own, with the form-fitting leather and breathable mesh panels being wrapped around my feet by the ultra-adjustable dual BOA closure system. The front of the shoe takes the knocks and flying rock debris with ease too, with the Helcor leather panels protecting the shoe against scrapes and scuffs.

Before too long, we’re once again racing at full gas, leaping the ridges, set in the trail to slow off-road vehicles; but providing launch pads for our Orbea Oiz bikes! It’s an epic mile-long adrenaline filled section, that finishes with an easy traverse to the base of the final climb, taking us back onto the ridge overlooking the valley. Now, all that awaits us is the climb, with the well fitted and secure heel of the MX238 holding my feet firmly in place, as the pedals turn with precision and take me upwards across the technical terrain of the climb. Then, it’s a grand finale descent back to Dallowgill, a quick packing up and tidying ourselves, before we head off into the nearby Yorkshire Dales market town of Masham, with its historic cobbled square, as we enjoy warm drinks and carrot cake at the famous cafe, tucked neatly away  in the far corner, by the church.

Find your own adventures in 2025

Yes, Christmas and the New Year is a time for families; for celebrating life and adventure with them, like this ride out onto the epic trails of Nidderdale with my son, Ben, wrapped in some of the world’s best mountain biking shoes – our Lake MX238, and seeking new off-road adventures as I explore this quite beautiful world that we’re privileged to live in.

We’ve got some exciting new products to share with you in 2025, to help you on your own 2-wheeled trips into the hills. Why not sign up for our regular newsletter to get $20 off your first order and join the Lake cycling shoe family!