I rode every cobbled street in my city and punctured twice, but I still can't resist the rumble of the stones

Forget smooth tarmac, it's cobble season

A male cyclist in a pink cycling jersey rides on the cobbles of the Gotthard Pass
Switzerland's Gotthard Pass is a haven for cobble gobblers
(Image credit: Future)

This article is part of a series called ‘A love letter to…’, where Cycling Weekly writers pour praise on their favourite aspects of cycling. The below content is unfiltered, authentic and has not been paid for.

About three years ago, I set out on a wild challenge in central London. It was two days before Paris-Roubaix, and I was feeling inspired. I, too, wanted to bear the rumble of cobbles underneath my wheels, the bone-rattling sensation in my arms, but living in a built-up capital city, I had no nobbly farm tracks nearby. What could I do? Improvise.

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Tom Davidson
Senior News and Features Writer

Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is fluent in French and Spanish, and holds a master's degree in International Journalism. Since 2020, he has been the host of The TT Podcast, offering race analysis and rider interviews.

An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill, and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides. His best result is 28th in a hill-climb competition, albeit out of 40 entrants.