Tomorrow is the 1st September: in my mind that marks the start of Autumn. Met Basil & Liz Ford this afternoon for a beer – they have just returned from Puglia – to catch up about summer: mine in the north of England, theirs in southern Italy.The 1st […]
Bought a magazine yesterday published by Cycling Weekly – it was a special called “Health & Fitness”. It certainly works as I lost 6 pounds when I took it to the till! Gripe apart it has some interesting bits & pieces inside if you can ignore the acres […]
I emailed Mark Beaumont a few days ago to say how much I had enjoyed reading his book The Man Who Cycled The World, and he has replied: Hi Andrew, Thanks for your email and glad your own plans for next summer are still on the go. Great […]
If you look back at the post I made on Friday 29th August 2008, it was the last one I made until April 2009. I suppose the initial enthusiasm of cycling to Italy had started to dim after the frenzied activity of August, the leaves had started to […]
Some more useful information from “Audax John” who was in touch a couple of weeks ago, including a clarification about what “Audax Cycling” actually is:Audax is a slightly clandestine activity, with riders slogging through the lanes of our land at the dead of a night. No sag wagons, […]
I was just having a look at Mark Beaumont’s updates on his blog and noticed he had a terrain profile of one of his stages – it was provided by a company called Topocoding. So I followed the link and plugged in the main towns that make up […]
Stanfords‘ map & book shop in London is a great place to spend an hour or so in central London. I never remember where it is exactly and always end up wandering around the streets near Leicester Square tube station for a while until I bump into it. […]
Just received an email from a chap called John Davies in Willesden. He writes: I am also planning a ride to Italy next year. I will be starting from Shropshire, where my father was born and riding to Rieti (about 50miles) from Rome where my mother was born. […]
I’ve just about finished reading Mark Beaumont’s book The Man Who Cycled The World. It’s a cracking read and doesn’t fall into the trap of being a repetitive log of getting up, cycling, eating and then sleeping which, in effect, is what he did for 195 consecutive days. […]
Running is a key bit of preparation for cycling next summer: it will build up my levels of stamina and also help me shed the pounds I need to shed. And the good news is that this morning, I got back out on my running circuit and did […]
http://www.warmshowers.org/This is a site mentioned by Mark Beaumont in his book. I am emailing this to the blog from my phone so I don't forget to investigate it when I get to a computer!
My 2010 adventure is pretty tame compared to these guys:Ken Roberts is going around the World in four years. When asked why, he says “Simple – travel solo across the principal inhabited continents – Europe, Asia, Australia, the Americas and Africa – by bicycle. Departure date from home […]
It was such a beautiful day so I thought I would have a go at videoing the journey to work (Reading to Henley). That wasn’t too successful as the camera (my mobile phone) kept bouncing up and down as I fell into the finest potholes that the combined […]
Lance Armstrong tweeted that he was going for a ride in Paisley, Scotland…. and 300 people turned up!Watch the video. What a nice guy! And he’s a fellow Trek man (although his is probably not “Made in Taiwan” like mine).
I mentioned below about having bought the Cateye Micro Wireless bike computer and today I was able to set a benchmark figure for my daily commute from Reading to Henley. I set the starting point as the brow of Reading Bridge (as I always pass this point but […]
One thing that I really missed while doing my recent Pennine Cycleway journey was an ability to accurately measure the distances travelled. As a result, I have just bought a “Cateye Micro Wireless” thing (the title of the gadget isn’t long enough – there should be at least […]
This photo is on Mark Beaumont’s Flickr site and has the following description: “Jon Lee from Bristol who is cycling the coast to coast after seeing my round the world documentary joined me for a days ride “. What amazes me about the photo (apart from that incredible […]
This site is new, apparently, and details the Via Francigena south of Rome. Those linguists amongst you will note the use of the plural “e” – it isn’t a typo – as there apperas to be more than just the one route. It’s also good to see that […]
John Calver emailed me a few months ago asking for information about the route I was planning on taking. I emailed back at the time explaining that I hadn’t really got that far. He was planning to cycle from Calais to the Italian border in July this year, […]
Need to get back to thinking about next year’s little adventure to Italy. I am so glad to have completed the trip this summer, albeit a much shorter journey and over a longer period of time that I will need take next summer. I did 350 miles over […]
Another (genuinely) quality video from Boris: bring on the Vélib Londres!
Arrived in Derby and waiting for my train to Reading. Feel as though I have achieved something but sad that my little adventure is over… There are however, greater adventures planned!
Just outside Derby
Very wet. Paused in Ashbourne for a coffee before heading to Derby and the train home. I envisage issues with the trains but I live in hope.
I'm staying in a stately home!
This is more like it!
Pause for lunch. Haven’t enjoyed this morning much. Bad weather to start the day and lots of uphill! I am missing the Dales. But I am making good progress albeit by not following the 68 and taking the mainly A roads. Very scary in the fog this morning! […]
Climbing the hills just outside Holmfirth – Last of the Summer Wine country and the official start of this part of the journey. I’m back on the 68!
Almost. Setting off again tomorrow for my most taxing day of the trip: a 65 mile journey from Elland to Ilam, near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. I'm booked into the YHA place in Ilam. Looks like a stunning place to stay. I hope I get there before nightfall to […]
I have enjoyed every minute of it – far more than I actually thought I would. The cycling, the places, the scenery, the people, the weather, the accommodation, the relaxation, the fun…. I could good on. I can’t fault any of them! I would even go so far […]
… in Hebden Bridge.
Into familiar territory.
Early start. The longest day is here….
Writing up today’s events for the book (once I secure that elusive publishing contract… I’m open to offers) and planning tomorrow’s cycling. Day 7 will see me back in familiar territory: West Yorkshire and my family so at least I am guaranteed a sprung bed to sleep on. […]
My pub crawl of the Dales continues… although this being lunchtime I kept off the beer. Another beautiful ride, despite another section of pushing just after Settle. Over the tops I came up with the idea of not just cycling to Puglia next year but of cycling around […]
I stayed here in 1979 for a few days when I was at primary school: it doesn’t appear to have changed!
Not another pub but an addition to the signage here in the Yorkshire Dales. Prettier they may be, but far less frequent than earlier in the journey.
I could be anywhere on the continent. Beautiful evening sunshine as I write my diary waiting for a very unsummery steak and ale pie.
My thumb shows my position on the map – about half way along the full length of the Pennine Cycleway route. Arrived in Ingleton at 4pm. Despite the spectacular short cut from Appleby to Tebay over the moors which knocked about 8 miles off today’s planned 44 from […]
Beautiful
Crossing the M6 just south of Tebay.
And with a view like this, Yorkshire can't be far!
I'll no doubt pop in here later.
I did two of the walking tours recommended by the tourist office and have now seen what Appleby has to offer. The rain has come again and I have been forced into this pub for a pint of Black Sheep beer. Dam you rain!
Today it has rained for the first time seriously and I am wet. Not that I mind – it’s all part of being a cyclist. However the sun is just coming out and having arrived ridiculously early – only just past midday – in Dufton where I am […]
You can understand why people go to Greece when you stand on top of this hill. Just cycled up and had breakfast in a cafe that Bill Bryson would write a whole chapter about. It’s now downhill most of the way…
Skies are a grew and there is a home wind.
The last 5 miles were frustratingly complicated and at one point I was lost. All down to the arse who has blocked one end of the Lambley Viaduct. The route then went to pot. A lack of signs didn’t help. This drink x 2 plus two cans of […]
I know you are envious of the UK’s cycle network Ian. Here is a sign showing who paid for it – the National Lottery!
I am still in the very north of England!
A steep climb to kick off the day – the steepest of the day I hope. In the distance is last night’s stopover: Bellingham. Alston here I come.
Arrived in Bellingham about an hour and a half ago. It has been a long, tough day of cycling but that only makes the arrival more fulfilling. The bunkhouse is great – fellow residents just as friendly as last night. Sitting writing my diary in the local pub […]
Bridge just outside Wooler. It saved me getting my feet wet at 9am – the road passes through the river!
Everything has gone to plan! Arrived at the hostel at around 6pm, showered, ate and am now relaxing with the other hostel dwellers, none of whom appear to fit the description of being youths. The first guy I met was 82 and he had just arrived from South […]
The start! 2pm on 1st August 2009.
'I have never been a fanatical cyclist. Furthermore, I am a lousy mechanic. When I decided to cycle around the world I had never ridden a race and hardly knew the difference between degreaser and a derailleur. I didn't want to cycle around the world, it just kind […]
I just wish I knew whether or not they were complimentary…
A while since I was at Kings Cross but it still has the feeling of a northern enclave of London with the northern accents and northern names. Getting used to balancing the bike while it is heavily laden – I was a bit anxious about getting on the […]
