From lush loch-side lanes in Scotland to the wide-open expanses of the American Midwest’s gravel network and the lava fields of Lanza, the landscapes of the adventurous cyclist are epic playgrounds barely touched by modernity. And yet the out-of-town industrial estate also deserves its place in the annals of all-road adventures. Why? Because this is where the kit for exploring the world is often conceived, created and couriered to cyclists across the globe.
We’ve experienced these gargantuan warehouses stacked high with crates of carbon and caps, polyester and polycarbonate across Britain and beyond, often resembling the bicycling equivalents of that famous final scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark (with elastane replacing the Ark). Beyond the roundabouts and loading bays, however, these identikit warehouses often disguise the innovation that’s brewing within, as well as the inspirational and scenic testing grounds a track pump’s throw away.
Altura, I discover on a recent visit, fits this
