Category: Adventure

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 068 – Tony Lenihan – Cycling Bilbao To Athens

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Tony Lenihan, a retired policeman, works for his local council in the English Midlands as their ‘Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinator’. He’s also a keen cyclist and, in the early autumn of 2022, after more than 40 years of work, he decided to take a career break and head off on a solo cycling adventure from Bilbao to Athens. It would be a 7-week ferry-hopping Greek odyssey that took him through northern Spain, to the islands of Sardinia and Scilly, across the heel of Italy to Brindisi before sailing the Adriatic to his final destination of Greece. He talked to The Cycling Europe Podcast about his continental experiences… but also about ‘active travel’ in the UK and how the country measures up (or not) to its European neighbours. 

“Cycle Touring And Bikepacking – What’s The Difference?”

By on • ( Leave a comment )

In yesterday’s weekly email from Cycling Uk, there was a link to a video explaining the differences between cycle touring bikepacking. I’m certainly in the former camp but I did dip my toe into the bikepacking world a few years ago. It didn’t last long. I just found the whole thing a bit inconvenient. But each to their own. The video is worth a few minutes of your time. I suppose it’s been made in the context of many of the ‘hero’ routes that have been created by Cycling UK in recent years which tend to be more off-road than on…

Episode 068: Cycling Bilbao To Athens – Tony Lenihan

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Tony Lenihan, a retired policeman, works for his local council in the English Midlands as their ‘Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinator’. He’s also a keen cyclist and, in the early autumn of 2022, after more than 40 years of work, he decided to take a career break and head off on a solo cycling adventure from Bilbao to Athens. It would be a 7-week ferry-hopping Greek odyssey that took him through northern Spain, to the islands of Sardinia and Scilly, across the heel of Italy to Brindisi before sailing the Adriatic to his final destination of Greece. He talked to The Cycling Europe Podcast about his continental experiences… but also about ‘active travel’ in the UK and how the country measures up (or not) to its European neighbours. 

Comfort And Convenience In Clothing For Cycling — Tips And Tricks

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Most people engage in cycling for many reasons. Some cycle for fun or physical health benefits, while others do it for charity. Regardless, participants should wear appropriate clothing for comfort and convenience as well as safety. If you are relatively new to cycling or just participating in cycling for charity for the first time, then this article is for you because it shares tips and tricks when choosing cycling clothes for comfort and convenience.

“One Of My All-Time Favourite YouTube Videos… Epic Stuff!”

By on • ( 2 Comments )

On July 3rd 2022 I set off from The Hook of Holland in The Netherlands, turned right and pedalled off in the direction of France. It was an anti-clockwise tour of the continent; the EuroVelo 12 along the Belgian coast, the EuroVelo 4 to Dieppe, L’Avenue Verte to Paris, La Véloscénie to Mont St Michel before rejoining the EuroVelo 4 to Morlaix, the EuroVelo 1 / Vélodyssée to Royan, the Canal de la Garonne to Toulouse, the Canal du Midi to Sète, the EuroVelo 17 beside the Rhône to Andermatt in Switzerland and finally the EuroVelo 15 / Rhine Cycle Route back to The Hook of Holland and the return ferry to Hull on September 3rd.

The Sherborne Travel Writing Festival 2023

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Travel writing is very much on my mind at the moment as I continue to work on the first draft of my 4th book, provisionally titled ‘Le Grand Tour’ which willl recount the story of the cycle around France, Switzerland and down the Rhine that I completed last summer. A few years ago, around the time of the publication of the 3rd book, ‘Spain to Norway…’ I had the great pleasure in being invited to deliver a talk at the Lismore Festival of Travel Writing that takes place every year in County Waterford, Ireland. It’s a unique event within the British Isles as no other book festival specialises in travel writing. Or rather, it was until now…

YOUTUBE EXCLUSIVE: Episode 068 Of The Cycling Europe Podcast

By on • ( 1 Comment )

Tony Lenihan, a retired policeman, works for his local council in the English Midlands as their ‘Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinator’. He’s also a keen cyclist and, in the early autumn of 2022, after more than 40 years of work, he decided to take a career break and head off on a solo cycling adventure from Bilbao to Athens. It would be a 7-week ferry-hopping Greek odyssey that took him through northern Spain, to the islands of Sardinia and Scilly, across the heel of Italy to Brindisi before sailing the Adriatic to his final destination of Greece.  He talked to The Cycling Europe Podcast about his continental experiences… but also about ‘active travel’ in the UK and how the country measures up (or not) to its European neighbours. 

asphalt road leading to the summit of mont ventoux

Cycling Mont Ventoux: Everything You Need To Know 

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Cycling Mont Ventoux should be on the bucket list of every avid cyclist. It’s the highest mountain in Provence, and because it’s isolated from other mountains of the same size, it’s one of the most prominent geographical features in northern Provence. You can access the top of Mont Ventoux by road, from where you can enjoy the spectacular views of Provence and Rhône valley, the southern Alps, and even the Pyrenees when the air is clear.