In the context of a two-month cycle around Europe I can put up with a few days here and there of uninspiring or troublesome cycling but I do feel for all those people who set their heart of cycling the Canal du Midi or, more pertinently to this week, from Basel to where I am now (about 20km south-west of Frankfurt). It really is keep-your-receipt stuff but unlike a pair of jeans from Marks & Spencers, you canโt take a cycling holiday back to the shop and ask for a refund.
The best thing about day 57 is that it wasnโt day 56. Thatโs not to say that day 57 will go down in history as being a great day of cycling but it wasnโt anywhere near as monotonous as yesterdayโs cycle. And in contrast (because itโs not all about the cyclingโฆ), yesterday evening was fun chatting with Dave from Seattle, the German chap and the French family with their very funny two boys. Tonight here in Phillipsburg itโs just me and the chap in the next tent who I saw for the first time about 30 seconds ago. Heโs wearing a dressing gown and a head torch. Itโs not a look that I have ever coveted on a campsite but who knows? Itโs only 9pm. The evening could yet turn out to be an entertaining oneโฆ
There are a lot of online bikeshops out there these days. How do you choose the best one for your needs? It can be tricky, but it’s definitely not impossible. In this blog post, we will discuss some factors to consider when making your decision. We’ll also provide a few tips to help make the process a little bit easier for you. So, whether you’re looking for your first bike or just need to replace an old one, read on!
About 80% of today was deathly dull. Why did I end up cycling the Rhine-Rhรดne Canal again after having cycled it north to south in 2010 and been bored just as rigid back then? I suppose it was because I ended up on the French side of the Rhine last night. Tonightโs short video is a boring one reflecting the day quite wellโฆย
Baselโฆ You almost ruined my day. More later on that score. Basel aside, today was up there with one of the best days of cycling and Iโm so delighted that Iโve been able to sample at least some of the delights of the shore of the Bodensee. It was the stuff of cycling dreams; beautiful scenery, nice weather, great cycle paths, fascinating places to visit and a satisfying distance covered. Itโs one of those days when you are better off not reading this drivel and just watching the video.
The first part of Plan B has been enactedโฆ Quite an achievement when you bear in mind that there wasnโt ever a detailed Plan A and when Plan B is about as vague as a Brexitier when you try pin them down on the benefits of the UK leaving the EU. I am currently en route to Konstanz in Germany. More of that in a moment.
This morning Iโm meeting Ken Wynn in Liechtenstein. Heโs British but lives in Amsterdam. Heโs currently on a charity ride across Europe. Iโll let him explain in his own wordsโฆ
Life is getting complicated, for good reasons. Iโm now in the Swiss town of Buchs and trying to plan tomorrow which will hopefully see me meet two people at either ends of the day; Ken, who is cycling 12 countries in 12 days (see his Twitter feed @highfielder80 for updates and the details of his trip) and my friend Claus (remember him from โCrossing Europeโฆโ?) who I havenโt seen for many years, in Breganz, Austria in the late afternoon. I need a social secretary! Iโm also hatching an interesting plan for Friday but more of that in due courseโฆ
