When I recorded the very first episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, I wasn’t entirely sure where it would lead. In fact, the question I posed at the very start of my podcast journey was: does the world really need another cycling podcast? Nearly one hundred episodes later, I think I’ve found the answer. What began as an experiment has grown into a rich collection of stories from across Europe (and occasionally beyond), told by people united by one simple idea: that a bicycle is one of the best ways to explore the world.
So, what have those 100 episodes actually contained?
A Podcast About People, Not Just Places
At its core, The Cycling Europe Podcast has always been about people.
Over the years, I’ve spoken to seasoned long-distance cyclists, first-time tourers, retirees setting off on new adventures, families travelling together, and individuals using cycling to navigate major life changes. Some have cycled across continents. Others have simply taken their first tentative pedal strokes beyond their front door.
What connects them all is not athletic ability, but curiosity.
Time and again, guests have shown that cycle touring isn’t reserved for elite athletes or hardened adventurers. It’s something far more accessible and far more personal.
Big Journeys and Small Moments
Long-distance journeys have featured heavily throughout the podcast.
There have been rides from the UK to Istanbul, from Bilbao to Athens, and even from England to India. Some guests have circumnavigated the globe, others have crossed entire continents, and a few have taken on extraordinary endurance challenges.
But what stands out isn’t just the scale of these journeys, it’s the detail within them. The roadside encounters, the unexpected detours, the difficult days, and the moments of quiet satisfaction that come from simply continuing to pedal.
These stories remind us that cycle touring is as much about the small moments as the big achievements.
Exploring Europe, One Route at a Time
If there’s a geographical heart to the podcast, it’s Europe itself.
Across 100 episodes, listeners have travelled – virtually at least – along some of the continent’s most iconic routes. From the Hebridean Way in Scotland to La Vélo Francette in France, from the EuroVelo network criss-crossing borders to lesser-known regional rides, the diversity of cycling in Europe has been a constant theme.
Certain countries appear again and again – France, the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands among them – but there has also been a growing exploration of less familiar destinations, including the Balkans, Scandinavia, and remote island landscapes.
The result is a portrait of Europe not as a single destination, but as a patchwork of cultures, terrains, and experiences – all best discovered at the pace of a bicycle.
The Stories I’ve Told Myself
Alongside the interviews, the podcast has also become a space for my own journeys.
Series such as Le Grand Tour and episodes featuring travels with bikes like Reggie and Wanda have allowed me to document my own experiences on the road. These episodes sit slightly differently – they are less about conversation and more about storytelling – but they have become an important part of the podcast’s identity.
In many ways, they mirror the journeys of the guests: the same questions, the same uncertainties, the same simple act of putting one foot on the pedal and seeing what happens next.
Familiar Voices and a Growing Community
While many guests appear only once, a handful of voices have become familiar over time.
Contributors such as Rob Ainsley and Tim Sanders have featured regularly, bringing continuity and a sense of shared experience. Others have returned to update their stories or to reflect on journeys completed years earlier.
Gradually, what has emerged is not just a series of interviews, but a community – loosely connected, geographically dispersed, but united by a shared enthusiasm for travelling by bike.
More Than Just Cycling
Although cycling is the thread that runs through every episode, the podcast has often strayed into wider territory.
There have been discussions about active travel and infrastructure, reflections on environmental issues, explorations of cycling history, and practical conversations about planning, equipment, and accommodation.
All of these add depth to the central idea: that cycling is not just a hobby, but part of a broader way of engaging with the world.
So, What Have We Learned?
After 100 episodes, a few things have become clear.
That Europe is endlessly varied, and endlessly explorable.
That cycle touring is accessible to far more people than many assume.
And that the most memorable journeys are rarely defined by distance alone.
Perhaps most importantly, it’s become clear that the real value of these journeys lies in the stories they create and in the willingness to share them.
The Next 100 Episodes
Reaching 100 episodes feels like a milestone, but not a conclusion.
There are still more routes to ride, more people to meet, and more stories to tell. If the first 100 episodes have shown anything, it’s that the possibilities for exploration – on two wheels – are almost limitless.
And so the journey continues. Episode 100 will be available soon and it will look back upon the highlights of the previous 99 episodes. Episodes 101 and 102 have already been recorded and will take us along the Silk Road and around France in a reflective discussion about cycle planning.
Thank you for listening.
Andrew
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Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda, was published in May 2024 and recounts Andrew P. Sykes’ journey around France, into the Alps and down the Rhine in the summer of 2022. It is available as a paperback and as and eBook from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com (and other international Amazon sites). The paperback is also available from Waterstones or Foyles and the eBook from Apple iBooks.
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