Author Archives

Andrew

Warmshowers: Changes For 2023

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A few days ago I posted about the French site HomeCamper and the fact that they were looking for investment to develop their business. (It would be interesting to hear if anyone did actually invest in shares…) But WarmShowers remains the go-to accommodation option for many touring cyclists, with good reason. It’s free and is a great way of meeting local people with whom you automatically have a common interest; cycling. Well, a few minutes ago, an email has arrived from WarmShowers detailing some interesting developments that we can look forward to in 2023.

5 Ways Bristol Cyclists Can Stay Safe This Winter

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Cycling in the winter can be dangerous if you donโ€™t prepare. In this article, weโ€™re going to take a look at what Bristol cyclists can do to stay safe this winter. Cycling is a great way to stay fit and healthy. Some people choose a bike over car ownership, especially when living in a city. However, the winter season brings challenges for cyclists. The roads become more dangerous, and itโ€™s important to prepare for the winter season to continue cycling safely.

Vive La France! HomeCamper

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OK, the French lost the World Cup Final, but it was a good match. Great match even. I only really started watching once it went into extra time, putting down my book – a biography of the legendary Yorkshire cyclist Beryl Burton – to concentrate on events in Doha. And, alas, the outcome for the French wasn’t good. But let’s face it, they made much more progress than the English or Welsh teams. Chapeau! Yet football isn’t the only thing at which the French excel. Home Camper is worthy of investigation and this post is prompted by an email that arrived in my inbox earlier today…

man in green jacket riding bicycle on road

Changes To The Highway Code: Everything Cyclists Should Know

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Imagine if there were no rules on the road; it would be utter chaos. Cars would be travelling at ridiculous speeds, pedestrians would have next to no chance of crossing the road safely, and thereโ€™d be a whole host of serious accidents. Thatโ€™s why we have the Highway Code. The Highway Code is a set of mandatory rules and guidelines that apply to all road users in the United Kingdom. The aim of them is to improve everyoneโ€™s safety.

A Gem? Serious Wanderlust? TV-Level Production?

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Back in the early days of ‘Cycling Europe’ I used to publish lots of the reviews that were written for the books. I’m a bit more relaxed about reviews nowadays but when I do stumble upon them, it’s always nice to hear that unknown people out there around the world have read, listened or watched something that I have created and have enjoyed the experience. As suggested in that previous sentence, it’s now more than just books; there are over 350 YouTube videos with nearly a quarter of a million views and 61 episodes of The Cycling Europe Podcast which is, I am told, in the top 2.5% of podcasts worldwide. If you have yet to discover the books, the films or the podcasts, here are a few of those reviews that may tempt you to give them a try…

blue cable car

The End Of 2022 Is Nigh… And 2023 Beckons

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With the editing done and the premieres of Le Grand Tour films uploaded and scheduled for the remaining Thursdays in December (well, the three before Christmas), my mind can return to other matters ‘Cycling Europe’. And there are a few plans that have been on the back-burner that can now move to the front of the gas hob. If, that is, I can afford to turn on the gas…

Danny MacAskillโ€™s Postcard From San Francisco

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I noticed a new video from Danny MacAskill this week: Postcard from San Francisco. I haven’t really been keeping up with his videos in recent months and years but when it comes to spectacular cycling films, his are difficult to beat and, with the financial might of the Red Bull corporation, the production values are cinematic. How he manages to balance on top of that tennis net is a mystery known only to the man himself. I like how he has to push his bike through Alcatraz and it’s good to know that he does fall off once in a while (probably significantly more than that…). Enjoy the film!

Le Grand Tour: The Film Premieres

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In recent weeks, indeed since returning from my ‘Grand Tour’ of the continent early in September, I haven’t posted much to CyclingEurope.org. But I have been busy. Busy film editing… It was always my plan to make use of the significant amount of video footage – over 3,000 clips – in a film that retold the story of the epic cycle from The Hook of Holland to The Hook of Holland via much of France, Switzerland and the Rhinelands.