I was a little concerned by the accommodation situation this morning. But in the end it turned out OK. A cheap room – by Annecy standards – turned up on Booking.com and I snapped it up. Itโs a ground floor room built for those with access needs. It would have been perfect if Iโd had the bike with me. But I donโtโฆ
And today, a bus. If Iโd set off at the crack of dawn I could have caught a direct regional TER to โDijon. There are a couple every day from Paris Bercy station but I didnโt and neither did I fancy a long wait until the later train. So, I caught a TER to Laroche Migennes (no, Iโd never heard of it either until this morning) where I could catch a โTER Busโ.
Iโm off on my summer travelsโฆ but without the bike and initially on the train. Or, rather, quite a few trains. My plan is to get as far as Chamonix by Saturday afternoon where I will meet up with a group of people for a guided hiking holiday – the Tour de Mont Blanc – and I am current awaiting the departure of my next train from one of Parisโ lesser-known stations, Bercy.
If you are a member of Cycling UK and pay your ยฃ4 every month, you will hopefully have had the opportunity to read my account of last year’s Grand Tour that appeared in the June / July 2023 issue of Cycle Magazine. (If you are not a member, why not?? It’s a bargain and the magazine is one of the best cycling reads that you can get your hands on; real people, real cycling, real stories…)
This website tends to be about cycle touring and related matters, but quite often veers off in the direction of other cycling-themed areas, for example professional cycling. I can’t say that I follow professional cycling religiously. I have a reasonable passing interest in it and will take the time to follow if I can. I remember working in France in the 1990s and watching the Tour de France on the TV in the afternoons after work. It was – and remains – a brilliant way to get to know France! When Le Tour came to Yorkshire that was fun and last year on my Grand Tour of Europe I had the opportunity of visiting the world headquarters of the UCI in Aigle, Switzerland which was interesting (see video below).
Jetting off for an overseas cycling holiday is the perfect way to explore newย landscapes, embrace new cultures, and challenge yourself on two wheels.Flying with a bike can seem daunting if youโve never done it before.ย Whether youโre a leisure rider or seasoned cyclist, itโs important toย startย planning everythingย well in advance to ensure your holidayย goesย smoothly and your trusty steelย remainsย unscathed.
To celebrate Yorkshire Day 2023, another opportunity to listen to a Yorkshire-themed podcast (albeit one that starts in Lancashire).
“Andrew P. Sykes takes The Cycling Europe Podcast out on the cycle path and travels from Morecambe on Lancashire’s west coast to the county’s historical capital at Lancaster, across the Pennines and through Yorkshire via Settle and Ripon, completing his trip in that county’s historical capital at York. The Way of the Roses is a route of contrasting landscapes and, at times, challenging terrain; join Andrew (and his bicycle Wanda) as they spend three days following one of northern England’s most popular cycle routes. The music is composed and played by Rob Ainsley. More of Robโs music can be found on his website e2e.bike.”
If you’d like to contribute to The Cycling Europe Podcast, please get in touch by emailing podcast@CyclingEurope.org. If you’d like to support the podcast, please visit CyclingEurope.org/Support. Thanks if you can!
The weather may be more reminiscent of winter but it is August 1st and that means it’s Yorkshire Day. What better an opportunity (especially bearing in mind that it’s chucking it down outside) to sit back and watch three Yorkshire-themed cycling videos from recent years. If you happy to live in Lancashire, you’ll also benefit from a few minutes of your county at the start of the Way of the Roses film. Happy Yorkshire Day!
