If you are at all into things like the Tour de France, you might well be aware of the Never Strays Far podcast. Featuring Ned Boulting, Pete Kennaugh and David Millar, they share their thoughts on road racing and much more, especially during their Grand Tour commentating travels.

To celebrate the Never Strays Far podcast supporting this weekend's National Trophy Cyclocross, Cotic has collaborated with David Millar and Conor Brady to bring you a one-off art bike in the colours of the event.

I got to talk to David a few months ago about collaborating more generally, but we both got excited about the idea of doing something cool and special to celebrate the first event Never Strays Far has supported. Conor is the brilliant graphic designer behind the look and feel of Never Strays Far, and the fantastic artwork supporting this weekend's race. Our in-house graphic designer Kelvin worked with Conor to make his vision a bicycle shaped reality, and our amazing light wrangler Richard Baybutt is responsible for the photos.

This is the result...

The bike is based around our current - already Limited Edition - Reynolds 853 tubed Escapade gravel bike. It’s what we at Cotic call a Life Bike. A subtle steel bike that just fits into your life, for work, fun or escape. It will take you to the office, to the shops, on holiday, to the hills, on adventures, or just to that quiet place where you get some headspace.

For the build, some Italian flair is rolled in with Campagnolo EKAR, ably supported by HUNT Gravel X-Wide wheels. WTB Cross Boss 700x35 tyres and super light SL8 Carbon saddle to bring some CX sensibility to the build. As with every single Cotic bike, it was assembled at our UK base.

It has been custom painted by Five Land Bikes (the same people responsible for our flagship UK made RocketMAX enduro frames), and is genuinely unique.

We have Campagnolo EKAR builds in the regular (and beautiful) Lichen and Damson colourways with Fulcum wheels starting at £4,099.

If you are looking for something a little lower price point, we also have the SRAM Apex1 based bikes available starting at £2,099.

We can deliver within 7 days at the moment.

I am a big fan of the Never Strays Far podcast, and it was listening to the pod during the Tour de France this year that encouraged me to contact David. To find him excited to talk and welcoming to his world was lovely, because although I've been doing this nearly 20 years, I am ultimately (as I think we all are) a cycling fan. I'm looking forward to meeting Ned and Pete, and being at the event over the weekend.

The bike will be on display at the Live Podcast recording on Saturday night (unfortunately already sold out), and in the Never Strays Far tent at the race on Sunday. It's free to watch, and cyclocross is a great spectator sport, so if you can get down to Velopark Torbay, there will be plenty to see. Racing starts at 0930.

I'm excited for the weekend. If you're around, come and have a chat. See you there?

Cheers,

Cy