Category: Adventure

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 085 – Johnny Murtagh / Cycling The Camino De Santiago

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In the early autumn of 2023, at the start of a year-long sabbatical from work, Johnny Murtagh cycled from his home in southern England to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. “But the real story isn’t just the journey itself – it’s the incredible group of people I met along the way. A motley crew from all corners of the world, each with their own unique reasons for being there, and together we shared unforgettable moments.” He spoke to The Cycling Europe Podcast about his memorable experiences as a cycling peregrino and his new group of fellow-minded friends.

Episode 085: Johnny Murtagh – Cycling The Camino De Santiago

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In the early autumn of 2023, at the start of a year-long sabbatical from work, Johnny Murtagh cycled from his home in southern England to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. “But the real story isn’t just the journey itself – it’s the incredible group of people I met along the way. A motley crew from all corners of the world, each with their own unique reasons for being there, and together we shared unforgettable moments.” He spoke to The Cycling Europe Podcast about his memorable experiences as a cycling peregrino and his new group of fellow-minded friends.

HammEdventures: “You Are Coming With Us Every Step Of The Way”

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Since this website was created back in 2008 – over 16 years ago (scary!) – I’ve been contacted by hundreds of people asking questions, offering advice and giving their opinions. One of the first people to contact me was Chris Hammersley. In 2009 he was planning to travel along a similar route to my own in 2010 from the UK to the south of Italy. From memory, I think he ended up travelling a few weeks behind me. In fact he did! I’ve just been trawling through the CyclingEurope.org archive and he set off on August 9th 2010. And I’m delighted to see that the website that he set up 15 years ago is still going strong!

Cycling Japan: The Map And The F-Word?

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The original plan was to cycle the length of Japan in the summer of 2020. It never happened. It didn’t hapen in 2021 and by the time summer of 2022 had arrived I had made other plans: Le Grand Tour was the result. 2023 and 2024 were dedicated to writing the book and it’s only now, in the autumn of 2024, that my mind occasionally wanders back to thoughts of cycling in the land of the rising sun. My large paper map of Japan was probably relegated to the ‘Japan’ section of my bookshelf at some point in late 2021 when it became increasingly apparent that COVID-induced travel restrictions were still lingering in the Far East. A few minutes ago, I took down the map of Europe and reinstated the map of Japan. A small, but significant step towards reviving my plans to cycle the length of Japan. Kind of… There’s a problem.

Le Grand Tour… : The Danish Opinion? “A Classy Exponent Of A Cycling Story”

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“A cycling book with great insight, humor and self-irony! In conclusion, it must be pointed out that the book naturally requires a certain amount of English skills to get the full benefit, not least on the humorous level… Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda is a classy exponent of a cycling story that can get other than just hardcore adventure cyclists on the steel horse!”

The Marcher Castles Way: Just For Bikepackers?

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I see that Cycling UK have just launched another of their routes. This one straddles the English-Welsh border and has been named the Marcher Castles Way. The route – there are now eight of them in total – appear to be aimed more at the bikepacker than the traditional cycle tourist. I wonder how feasible it is to ride them with a pannier set-up on a touring bike rather than a mountain bike and ‘packs’. Looking carefully at the videos and the photos, the surfaces seem to be OK. They remind me of cycling along the Yorkshire coast a few years back from Scarborough to Whitby. Any thoughts?

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 084 – Eric / Wheels To Wander

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With his partner, Maudi, Dutch cyclist Eric has cycled the World. He was initially inspired to set off on two wheels by Peter Gostelow and his ‘Big Africa Cycle’. Via their popular Wheels to Wander YouTube Channel, Eric and Maudi now inspire others with their engaging filmed travelogues and practical advice videos. Eric joined the podcast to reflect on his years in the saddle… 

Episode 084: Eric / Wheels To Wander

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With his partner, Maudi, Dutch cyclist Eric has cycled the World. He was initially inspired to set off on two wheels by Peter Gostelow and his ‘Big Africa Cycle’. Via their popular Wheels to Wander YouTube Channel, Eric and Maudi now inspire others with their engaging filmed travelogues and practical advice videos. Eric joined the podcast to reflect on his years in the saddle…

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 083 – Part 2 – The Northern Isles – Orkney

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After a week on Shetland (listen to part 1 of this two-part podcast), The Cycling Europe Podcast takes the late-night ferry south to Kirkwall on the islands of Orkney. Following a day spent exploring the capital, Andrew Sykes cycles west for three nights of camping in the historic town of Stromness. From here he heads first to Hoy, home to the spectacular beach and cliffs at Rackwick and the Scapa Flow Museum where he discovers more about the wartime importance of the deep water harbour. After spending a day off the bike investigating the delights of Stromness itself, Andrew cycles off on a journey around the mainland taking in prehistoric Skara Brae and the bucolic Brough of Birsay before a return to Kirkwall and his ferry home via Aberdeen.

Episode 083 – Part 2: The Northern Isles – Orkney

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After a week on Shetland (listen to part 1 of this two-part podcast), The Cycling Europe Podcast takes the late-night ferry south to Kirkwall on the islands of Orkney. Following a day spent exploring the capital, Andrew Sykes cycles west for three nights of camping in the historic town of Stromness. From here he heads first to Hoy, home to the spectacular beach and cliffs at Rackwick and the Scapa Flow Museum where he discovers more about the wartime importance of the deep water harbour. After spending a day off the bike investigating the delights of Stromness itself, Andrew cycles off on a journey around the mainland taking in prehistoric Skara Brae and the bucolic Brough of Birsay before a return to Kirkwall and his ferry home via Aberdeen.

stockholm skyline beside water during sunset

2025: Japan Or…?

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It’s September 1st, 2024, marking the start of autumn and “la rentrée” in France. I reflect on upcoming challenges at work and school, along with cycling plans, potentially riding the length of the Japanese archipelago in 2025. Contemplating alternatives closer to home, a European cycling route, EuroVelo 10 and EuroVelo 7, emerges as a potential rival.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 083 – Part 1 – The Northern Isles – Shetland

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The Cycling Europe Podcast travels to the most northerly islands of Britain for a week of camping, hostelling and cycling. Renowned for its wild beauty, but also its capricious weather, Andrew Sykes sets off on a ride that will stretch the entire length of the archipelago from Unst in the north to Sumburgh in the south taking time to explore the attractions, meet the locals and compare notes with fellow travellers as he cycles.

Episode 083 – Part 1: The Northern Isles – Shetland

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The Cycling Europe Podcast travels to the most northerly islands of Britain for a week of camping, hostelling and cycling. Renowned for its wild beauty, but also its capricious weather, Andrew Sykes sets off on a ride that will stretch the entire length of the archipelago from Unst in the north to Sumburgh in the south taking time to explore the attractions, meet the locals and compare notes with fellow travellers as he cycles.

The Northern Isles: Day 12 – Stromness To Kirkwall

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The final day on Orkney and a journey around the west, north and east coast of the western wing of the mainland. Skara Brae was impressive – very well presented – but the Brough of Birsay was the highlight. A great place to sit and watch the world go by in front of a magnificent backdrop. Once back in Kirkwall, I bumped into other cycle tourists I had come to know a little in recent weeks for a drink and then meal. As I stand here in Aberdeen station, we have all gone our separate ways, homeward bound. Where next?

The Northern Isles: Day 11 – Stromness

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No cycling today. Just a slow wander along the flagged Main Street of Stromness and back again, via the Khyber Pass… Tomorrow is my final day, but it will be a long one as the ferry taking back to Aberdeen doesn’t leave Kirkwall until 23:45. I’m booked in to visit Skara Brae (11 km) at 11:30 and the Orkney Brewery is close by (4 km) leaving either a direct return to Kirkwall (30 km) or a cycle around the northern side of the mainland (50 km). I have plenty of time and will decide once I see how I feel leaving the brewery and / or the weather.

The Northern Isles: Day 9 – Kirkwall To Stromness

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There was a strange – but welcome – calm outside the hostel this morning. Barely a whisper of wind. Alas this encouraged the midges to start hovering around me as I was preparing to leave. Then the wind picked up. The wind does have advantages… The plan was to cycle straight to Stromness. As ever, the plan changed as I took a quieter road from the southern coastline of the ‘mainland’ to cut across in the direction of the Ring of Brodgar. It was a lucky decision as it happened to be open to the public. It’s often closed to limit numbers but they decide on conditions on the day itself. Weather is a factor. So is the presence of a cruise ship that might bring too many people on the grass paths. Impressive stone circle. From memory, far more impressive than Stonehenge or Callanish on the Outer Hebrides. Then onwards to Stromness, over a low hill and with the lump that is Hoy now dominating the view, a trundle through Stromness. What’s not to like? Beautiful little coastal town that – minus the cars on the narrow flagged street that runs almost as far as the campsite – could host a period film crew within minutes. Look forward to exploring more over the weekend. Is the museum worth £7.50? I’d be interested to know. Campsite location is fabulous, but exposed. It’s a busy place so choice of pitches was limited. I’m bang in the middle with limited (well, no…) shelter. If the wind picks up I could be in trouble. At least the view’s nice. As for the sign about the ‘walking and cycling friendly road’, surely it would be a lot more friendly if they changed the 40 for a 30 or even a 20… Tomorrow I might venture up the Khyber Pass (watch the video).

The Northern Isles: Day 7 – Levenwick To Lerwick

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Glorious start to day 7, my final morning on Shetland and the weather held to take in a visit to St Ninian’s Isle on the west coast of the Sumburgh peninsula. (Slightly marred by the collection of junk – including caravans and campervans – on the mainland side of the tombolo…) A relatively short (28 km) wind-assisted ride north brought me back to my starting point, Lerwick. A ‘small’ cruise ship (just 1,000 people rather than the 6,000 people that some ships can bring) was in town and Wanda’s belt drive provoked the usual spike of interest from passing ship-bound tourists. I met for coffee with Cycling UK’s newly appointed project coordinator on Shetland. An interesting chat! Then the very bumpy ferry to Kirkwall on Orkney. A late-night 4 km dash in the rain brought me (and several others) to the SYHA hostel. A former military base no less. My main preoccupation today is to find the local laundrette. I need some clean clothes… Tomorrow I will cycle west to Stromness for a final three nights of camping.

The Northern Isles: Day 6 – Scalloway To Sumburgh Head

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A very different day from the previous two. Although quite misty and damp when leaving Scalloway, the rain all but held off. Just a few short showers in the morning and gradually the sun started shining. Never quite wall-to-wall blue sky but on occasions you could actually believe it was August. The road south in the direction of Sumburgh was another busy A road and there was a very close pass but that aside the traffic didn’t detract too much from the increasingly interesting scenery. Much nicer down here than up on bleak Yell. I paused at the campsite to erect the tent and continued sans panniers to the head. Crossing an airport runway was a novelty (although I have done this before when entering Gibraltar) and the road to the head itself – and the lighthouse – were delightful. Spectacular even once the lighthouse had been reached. A fabulous room framed the views perfectly. Superfluous on a day like today but often, no doubt, essential. Tomorrow I return to Lerwick and the ferry to Orkney. Before I leave Shetland, I’m hoping to visit nearby St Ninian’s ‘Isle’.

The Northern Isles: Day 4 – Unst To Brae

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Definitely type 2 fun today. Glad the cycling is over. The island of Yell is a bleak, unforgiving place. Very few traditional ‘attractions’ other than the vast expanse of remote moor. I spent much of the day cycling across it. Perhaps in normal times, an enjoyable slog. Today was not normal although probably more normal than I give it credit for. A relentless headwind. I’ve been anticipating it for days but when confronted, it’s only ‘fun’ when reflecting upon the experience in the local fish and chip shop – Frankie’s no less (it is, apparently, famous) – replenishing the body with calories. It has given returning to the mainland of Shetland extra meaning. I feel as though I have found civilisation again… There is, however, more wind to come tomorrow as I make my way south to Levenwick in the south where I will stay for two nights on the campsite.

The Northern Isles: Day 3 – Unst

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I cycled to the northerly point on the National Cycle Network today. It’s beside a beautiful beach called Wick of Saw (see map below). It’s actually no longer on the National Cycle Network as Sustrans removed the designation of route 1 from the cycle route than runs up the spine of Shetland (as it’s an A road) but there you go… The sign marking the point is still there. Weather better today: just a few short heavy rain sheets encouraged by the wind. Talking of which, it was a battle after turning around and heading south back to the hostel…

The Northern Isles: Day 1 – Lerwick

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An early arrival in Lerwick after an on-off night of ‘sleep’ on the ferry. Four seasons (well, at least three) in one day but predominantly dry. Visited the main attractions of Lerwick which included a large short ride around the impressive headland at Knab Point. The museum was interesting; the deep fried halloumi in the café upstairs delicious. Now back at the ‘best hostel in the world’ (2011/12) to plan tomorrow’s ride north.

Le Grand Tour: “Eagerly Anticipated… And It Did Not Disappoint”

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Earlier this morning it was nice to see that Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda was topping the Amazon ‘cycling books’ chart, for a few hours at least. Readers continue to get in touch to pass on positive comments about what they have read, often via social media and often with a picture of the book (often, curiously, beside an alcoholic drink but I’ll try not to read too much into that). Miha Pavšič is in Slovenia and he chose to email me with some feedback and it was a delight to start the day by reading what he had to say:

Shetland / Orkney: T – 1 Week

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Scrolling through social media last night – currently a very sobering activity – I noticed a tweet from the environmental journalist and activist George Monbiot. It made reference to the weather here in the UK at the start of next week and included a picture (from the excellent Windy app). You can see the tweet below. George is ‘astonished’ and ‘concerned’. The screenshot shows a weather system over the sea to the west of Wales. I’m travelling to Shetland at the other end of the UK the following day. Should I be concerned myself?

The Trans Dinarica Cycle Route

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“The Trans Dinarica is the first and only cycle route to connect all eight countries of the Western Balkans. The route — which links Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia — makes a priority of visiting national parks, UNESCO sites, often-overlooked villages, and diverse points of interest. In other words, the Trans Dinarica takes travelers deep into one of the most interesting and under-valued European regions, where adventure and culture are always connected.”

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 082 – Eastern Europe And The Balkans With Joanna Chmara

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Joanna Chmara is a cycle tourist from Poland. She runs the popular cycling website WobblyRide.com and has wide experience of travelling with her bike in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, usually as a solo cyclist. In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, she explains what first motivated her to set off on two wheels and why the hardest part of many cycling journeys is not the mountains nor the seemingly endless hours in the saddle, but the simple act of pushing your bike over the threshold of your front door. She also offers invaluable advice to those who are feeling apprehensive about their first long ride as well as revealing her top three European destinations (as well as one that you need to avoid, at least on a bicycle…)

Episode 082: Cycle Touring In Eastern Europe And The Balkans With Joanna Chmara

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Joanna Chmara is a cycle tourist from Poland. She runs the popular cycling website WobblyRide.com and has wide experience of travelling with her bike in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, usually as a solo cyclist. In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, she explains what first motivated her to set off on two wheels and why the hardest part of many cycling journeys is not the mountains nor the seemingly endless hours in the saddle, but the simple act of pushing your bike over the threshold of your front door. She also offers invaluable advice to those who are feeling apprehensive about their first long ride as well as revealing her top three European destinations (as well as one that you need to avoid, at least on a bicycle…)

Le Grand Tour: “I Felt Uplifted”

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Those of you who are members of Cycling UK will soon be receiving your copy of the bi-monthly magazine Cycle. It’s a cracking read and it comes as no surprise to discover that it is Britain’s most widely read cycling magazine. (If you don’t receive a copy, sign up to Cycling UK – it will cost you just £4 a month – and six times a year you’ll get your own copy delivered for free!) Back to the new edition of the magazine – August / September 2024 – that I have just been browsing online. It contains the usual eclectic mix of cycling-themed news, rides… and reviews.

Shetland / Orkney August 2024

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Shetland and Orkney it is… Earlier this week I carefully pieced together five train journeys and three ferry journeys, the combination of which will see me travel to Aberdeen, then Lerwick on Shetland, then Kirkwall on Orkney and back to Aberdeen nearly two week later. Whilst on Shetland – 6 nights – and on Orkney – 5 nights – I will head out across the small Scottish archipelagos, camping when I can, to seek out the wild attractions of Britain’s most northerly outposts. Including the two nights on the overnight ferries to and from Aberdeen, it will 13 nights – 14 days – of adventure.

The Summer Holidays Are Here…

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Not having renewed my passport since it ran out in May, the answer will have to be ‘somewhere in the UK’. I return to work (school) six weeks tomorrow so I have a good amount of time to make any decision and execute a plan. I’m still toying with the idea of a trip to Shetland / Orkney but with the weather gods yet to make their minds up as to whether summer has indeed arrived, I’m reluctant to commit to a trip to the far north. The weather on the Outer Hebrides in August 2021 was reasonable to good. The weather along the north and west coast of Scotland in August 2014 was biblically dreadful. It’s always a lottery north of the border.

blue vinyl record playing on turntable

In The Groove: Hanging Out With The Cool Music / Cycling Kids

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I woke up at the ridiculously early hour of 5am this morning (it’s the time I generally wake up during the week…), switched on the radio but rapidly switched it off again after listening to the news bulletin. Instead, I came to sit at the computer and typed ‘cycling’ into the seach function on BBC Sounds. Of the many suggestions in the list (some of which had nothing to do with cycling – recycling etc…), one stuck out. It was also the first one on the list as it had only been published on June 20th:

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 081 – Cycle Touring On Shetland (& Orkney)

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Shetland is the northernmost part of the United Kingdom, 170 km from mainland Scotland and only 220 km from the Norwegian coast. Of its 100 islands, only 15 are inhabited (by a population of just over 20,000) but according to the local tourist board, the remote archipelago “…has everything a cyclist could hope for”. Tim Sanders, Anne Lawther and Jayne Moore have all visited Shetland in recent months and the writer Martyn Howe has been a regular visitor over the years both on foot and by bike. The Cycling Europe Podcast asked all four travellers to recount their cycling experiences. Does Shetland really live up to the tourist hype? Anne, Jayne and Martyn also reflect upon their visits to nearby Orkney. How does it compare to its near-Nordic northern neighbour?

Episode 081: Cycle Touring On Shetland (& Orkney)

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Shetland is the northernmost part of the United Kingdom, 170 km from mainland Scotland and only 220 km from the Norwegian coast. Of its 100 islands, only 15 are inhabited (by a population of just over 20,000) but according to the local tourist board, the remote archipelago “…has everything a cyclist could hope for”. Tim Sanders, Anne Lawther and Jayne Moore have all visited Shetland in recent months and the writer Martyn Howe has been a regular visitor over the years both on foot and by bike. The Cycling Europe Podcast asked all four travellers to recount their cycling experiences. Does Shetland really live up to the tourist hype? Anne, Jayne and Martyn also reflect upon their visits to nearby Orkney. How does it compare to its near-Nordic northern neighbour?

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 080 – Cycle Touring 1970s Style – Rob Ainsley

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Writer Rob Ainsley has cycled from Barmouth to Yarmouth because they rhyme. He’s cycled from Britain’s smallest church in Rhos to its largest church in Liverpool. He’s cycled the London Monopoly board. And he continues to amass a long list of ‘end-to-end’ country cycles. So for Rob, cycling from Morecambe to Bridlington along the Way of the Roses cycle route may at first glance appear to be a little, err… pedestrian. But think again. He decided to cycle the route 1970s style. In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast we chat to Rob Ainsley in York where he reveals all. Was the naffest decade of the 20th century as good a time as any to be on two wheels? Or better forgotten…

Episode 080: Cycle Touring 1970s Style – Rob Ainsley

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Writer Rob Ainsley has cycled from Barmouth to Yarmouth because they rhyme. He’s cycled from Britain’s smallest church in Rhos to its largest church in Liverpool. He’s cycled the London Monopoly board. And he continues to amass a long list of ‘end-to-end’ country cycles. So for Rob, cycling from Morecambe to Bridlington along the Way of the Roses cycle route may at first glance appear to be a little, err… pedestrian. But think again. He decided to cycle the route 1970s style. In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast we chat to Rob Ainsley in York where he reveals all. Was the naffest decade of the 20th century as good a time as any to be on two wheels? Or better forgotten…

Le Grand Tour: Cycle Touring Done Right… Or Wrong?

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It was with a certain amount of trepidation that I started reading ‘Will Cycle’s’ review of Le Grand on a Bike Called Wanda. He had written kind words about my previous books. He might even be in the category of a ‘fan’. Yet his tweeted link to the review that he had written suggested that he had fallen out of favour with my take on cycle touring. Somewhat hesitantly, I followed the link…

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 079 – The Cycle Touring Festival / Albania

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Most episodes of The Cycling Europe Podcast know where they are going from the outset. This episode is slightly different. We start in the English Lake District to take in the sounds of the recent Cycle Touring Festival in its new home of Coniston. We then head to India to hear from long-distance cyclist James Thomas. He lives in a coastal town in Goa on the shore of the Arabian Sea but often ventures into the mountains on foot and on his bike. He reflects upon his current experiences in India as well as past experiences cycling through Europe, especially Albania. We stay in Albania for an extract from Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie, Andrew P. Sykes’ travelogue about cycling the EuroVelo 8 from Greece to Portugal in 2013. To explain if things have changed in the past decade, the podcast speaks to Dritan Kolgjini, a tour guide for Explore Travel’s Albanian cycling trips. Does the country really live up to its reputation of being the ‘new Croatia’?

Episode 079: The Cycle Touring Festival / Albania

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Most episodes of The Cycling Europe Podcast know where they are going from the outset. This episode is slightly different. We start in the English Lake District to take in the sounds of the recent Cycle Touring Festival in its new home of Coniston. We then head to India to hear from long-distance cyclist James Thomas. He lives in a coastal town in Goa on the shore of the Arabian Sea but often ventures into the mountains on foot and on his bike. He reflects upon his current experiences in India as well as past experiences cycling through Europe, especially Albania. We stay in Albania for an extract from Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie, Andrew P. Sykes’ travelogue about cycling the EuroVelo 8 from Greece to Portugal in 2013. To explain if things have changed in the past decade, the podcast speaks to Dritan Kolgjini, a tour guide for Explore Travel’s Albanian cycling trips. Does the country really live up to its reputation of being the ‘new Croatia’?

Exploring Emilia-Romagna By Bike: Top Cycling Routes

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In publishing Le Grand Tour at the start of the month, I was required to get to grips with producing a properly formatted ePUB document. Nothing to do with drinking in your local; everything to do with eBooks. It’s the format that is required by the online distributors. Earlier today I spent a bit of time going back over my first book – Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie – and reformatting it as an ePUB document. It means that it is easier to navigate. I took the opportunity of re-reading the prologue to that book. It was interesting reading what I wrote at the time, especially my comments regarding the development of the Italian section of the EuroVelo 5 back in 2008 (when I was beginning to plan the trip).

Move Over Tim Moore*: “An entertaining travelogue…

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The words of Richard Peploe in his review of Le Grand Tour… which has just been published on the Seven Day Cyclist website. But it gets better. A couple of years ago you may remember that I headed off down to London to meet up with one of the greats of cycle-touring literature, Mr Tim Moore. His publisher is a master of coming up with a catchy title for a book: French Revolutions, Gironimo, Vuelta Skelter to name but three. I wonder if a title such as ‘Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda’ would have ever got further than the trash can; I was once told by an important person in the publishing world that the title ‘Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie’ was one of the worst titles he had every seen! Anyway, I digress…

Le Grand Tour: Moving On…

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It is fair to say that writing a book takes up a lot of time. It’s also equally fair to say that once the writing has finished, marketing a book also takes up a lot of time. This is my excuse for not having posted to the website or produced many episodes of the podcast in recent weeks and months. However, it’s now over a week since Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda was unleashed from my protective shackles and I’m hoping to begin to return to the life of a blogging, podcasting cyclist. As for the book, it is now at the mercy of those who choose to read it and, perhaps, review it. So far, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and I am very grateful to everyone who has posted on social media or messaged me or indeed written a formal online review. To all those who have done so, thank-you.

Le Grand Tour: The First Review Has Landed…

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As you may have noticed, Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda will be published on May 1st. It’s always a slightly worrying moment as your baby is let loose into the at-times-unforgiving world of literary criticism. I can only hope there are more reviews similar to the one that has just been published on Brian Palmer’s Washing Machine Post website. Brian’s full review can be read by following link below. Here is an extract.

boats on a river

The Best Places In Europe To Go Biking

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Europe is, perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the most popular destinations to visit amongst American tourists. There’s little arguing with this fact, given the rich culture and wide variety of activities to indulge in on the continent across the pond. The more adventurous amongst us might be looking for a hands-on way to enjoy Europe, though – and if you’re the biking type, you needn’t look much further. The following are some of the best places to visit in Europe by bike.

Le Grand Tour On A Bike Called Wanda: Just Days To Go…

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It is only now a matter of days until three become four and the new book – Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda – is published. The date is May 1st although you can already pre-order the eBook from Amazon if you want to start reading at midnight on the 1st! The paperback isn’t available to pre-order but rest assured that will also be available from May 1st. Initially you’ll have to go via Amazon to get hold of the book but Apple Books will also have the book available on iTunes, hopefully from May 1st. And if you’d like a signed copy, keep reading as these should be dispatched this very weekend, several days before the official publication!

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 078 – Le Grand Tour On A Bike Called Wanda / Andrew P. Sykes

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In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, guest presenter Andrew Edwards chats to Andrew P. Sykes about his 2022 cycle around Europe and his new book – Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda – that is published on May 1st 2024.
“Secondary school teacher and inveterate would-be adventurer Andrew P. Sykes is back in the saddle. This time, however, it doesn’t belong to his long-term sidekick Reggie. There’s a fresh-faced kid on the block and she’s a bike called Wanda. (Nothing fishy about that!) The new double act set off on a grand tour of Europe to explore some of the continent’s most iconic cycling routes and locations: the Vélomaritime, the Avenue Verte to Paris, the Véloscénie to Mont-Saint-Michel, the Vélodyssée, the Canal de la Garonne, the Canal du Midi, the ViaRhôna, the Furka Pass and the Rhine are all on the itinerary of this light-hearted loop from the Hook of Holland… to the Hook of Holland. Join Andrew and Wanda as they put their best foot and only front wheel forward in a hot, dusty but at times very damp quest to delve into the lives, landscapes, history and culture of some of our nearest continental cousins and the countries they call home.”

Guide To The Best Bicycle Routes In Poland

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In this comprehensive guide, we will take you on a journey through the best bicycle routes that Poland has to offer. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, history buff, or simply looking for an adventure, Poland has something for everyone. Get ready to explore scenic routes, pedal along historic trails, and immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes of this beautiful country.

How to Handle Your First Tough Mudder

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Are you preparing to take part in your first Tough Mudder event? Firstly, congratulations on your bravery! Secondly, you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you. Known as one of the most extreme obstacle event series in the world, Tough Mudder tests your strength, endurance, and mental grit. It also forces you to get down and dirty in the mud! Already feeling nervous about the big day? Don’t worry, there is still time for you to get physically and mentally prepared for the challenge ahead of you. Find out how to handle your first Tough Mudder like a pro right here.

Cycle Touring With Solar Panels: Problem Solved?

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Generating and storing electricity while cycling is a perennial issue for anyone who had embarked upon a long cycle. On my current touring bike Wanda, the Koga WorldTraveller, I have a front wheel Son hub which dribbles a current into my phone when cycling via a USB socket clipped to the handlebars. I use the word ‘dribble’ purposefully. I’ve never been convinced that it is very effective at topping up the battery on my phone. That said, the hub dynamo does do an excellent job of powering the lights on the bicycle so it is definitely worth having. I have previously toyed with solar power but have come to the conclusion that when it comes to cycling and electricity the best thing to do is to find a socket that is attached to a power station. But have I been too hasty to dismiss the solar power option?

The Alpe Adria Cycle Path

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A while ago – back in November 2023 – I published an episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast (number 076) that consisted of an interview with a friend of mine, Tim Sanders. I know him through the Cycle Touring Festival and the podcast was actually recorded at last year’s event. (This year’s event is at the start of May by the way – see the recent post here on CyclingEurope.org.) Tim talked about cycling from Venice to Munich via Innsbruck in Austria on a route called, err… münchen venezia. It needs a better name than that but there you go. When I received an email a few days ago from ‘freewheeling’ David I thought he was writing about the route that Tim had discussed in the podcast. But he wasn’t…

Covering All Bases: ‘Le Grand Tour … On A Bike Called Wanda’

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Secondary school teacher and inveterate would-be adventurer Andrew P. Sykes is back in the saddle. This time, however, it’s not the one belonging to his long-term sidekick Reggie. There’s a fresh-faced kid on the block and she’s a bike called Wanda. (Nothing fishy about that!) The new double act set off on a grand tour of Europe to explore some of the continent’s most iconic cycling routes and locations: the Vélomaritime, the Avenue Verte to Paris, the Véloscénie to Mont-Saint-Michel, the Vélodyssée, the Canal de la Garonne, the Canal du Midi, the ViaRhôna, the Furka Pass and the Rhine are all on the itinerary of this light-hearted loop from the Hook of Holland… to the Hook of Holland. Join Andrew and Wanda as they put their best foot and only front wheel forward in a hot, dusty but at times very damp quest to delve into the lives, landscapes, history and culture of some of our nearest continental cousins and the countries they call home. [Warning: This adventure also contains trains.]

Warmshowers: New Website Coming On March 5th

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The Warmshowers website has always been the weak link in the organisation. It never seems to have moved with the times and has been somewhat ‘clunky’ to use. Well, news arrives of an updated website. It looks as though they have started again from scratch rather than tweaking the old website (which is presumably why the site will be unavailable for 24 hours immediately before the new one being launched). Tuesday 5th March is the launch date. Not sure if the app is also changing.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 077 – Agathe Daudibon / Svetlana & Quentin / Seth Maltzmann

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The Cycling Europe Podcast is back and for this first episode of 2024 we have a triple-whammy of cycling-themed chats and stories. The EuroVelo network is now 26 years old but it’s not resting on its laurels. Agathe Daudibon of the European Cyclists’ Federation is the person responsible for looking after the network and developing it further. She talked to the podcast about her background in cycle touring, her role at the ECF and how she sees the future of the pan-European network. Svetlana and Quentin, from Oxford, talk about their experiences of cycling along the coast in Croatia. And Seth provides something that he feels the podcast is missing; how bike tours can “turn into complete disasters”. His certainly have!

Episode 077: Agathe Daudibon / Svetlana & Quentin / Seth Maltzmann

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The Cycling Europe Podcast is back and for this first episode of 2024 we have a triple-whammy of cycling-themed chats and stories. The EuroVelo network is now 26 years old but it’s not resting on its laurels. Agathe Daudibon of the European Cyclists’ Federation is the person responsible for looking after the network and developing it further. She talked to the podcast about her background in cycle touring, her role at the ECF and how she sees the future of the pan-European network. Svetlana and Quentin, from Oxford, talk about their experiences of cycling along the coast in Croatia. And Seth provides something that he feels the podcast is missing; how bike tours can “turn into complete disasters”. His certainly have!

Route YC: Cycling The Yorkshire Coast

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Markus Stitz has been featured several times on this website and here he is again. And when I write ‘here’, I really mean ‘here’. He’s been to Yorkshire with Mark Beaumont and Heather Graham to cycle the length of the Yorkshire coastline. The route the trio followed has been rebranded and relaunched as ‘Route YC’ (Yorkshire coast) and Markus has made another beautiful film to add to his growing collection of stunning cycling films.

Bicycle Shows: Big And Not-So-Big (And N+1s…)

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June, it seems, is the month for bike shows, certainly in 2024. In the weekly email from Cycling UK there’s mention of the National Cycle Show in Birmingham from the 15th-16th of June. It will be the place to see all the big names of the cycling world (at least that haven’t recently stopped trading…). In contrast, I received an email reminding me of an alternative cycle show last week. It will also be taking place in June over the weekend of the 28th to the 30th and this year is taking place in Manchester. It is Bespoked.

Jennifer: Cycling In Southern Spain In The Winter

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Every so often I get an email from someone who has been cycling somewhere interesting and would like to share their story. I’m always happy to oblige. One such email arrived this week, from Canadian cyclist Jennifer. She’s currently in Spain with her husband, bravely cycling through the Spanish winter. I remember being in Andalusia in the run-up to Easter back in 2015 and although we had some lovely warm days on the coast, once I started cycling north and into the mountains, it could get chilly. I would imagine that’s certainly the case in January and February. Jennifer asks a question about cycling from Seville to Cordoba. If you have any information to help her I’m sure she would be delighted to hear from you via her website. Anyway, keep reading. Here’s her story…

The Cycle Touring Festival 2024: News Update!

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Some good news this week from Laura Moss at The Cycle Touring Festival. There was some doubt about the future of the festival last year as the location of all the in-person festivals to date – Waddow Hall in Clitheroe – is in the process of being sold by the Girl Guide Association. Would it return to Clitheroe in 2024? Would a new venue be found? Would, indeed, the festival return at all? These were the questions in many attendees’s minds as they headed home from the October gathering a few months ago, shivering from their two or three nights in a tent.

Le Grand Tour: From ‘It Was Breezy…’ To ‘…The T-shirt’

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Last weekend I completed the first draft of my fourth book, provisionally called Le Grand Tour. 159,600 words from the first – ‘It was breezy…’ – to the last – ‘…the T-shirt’. It tells the tale of my 2022 circular cycle from the Hook of Holland to the Hook of Holland. As to when it gets published, I’m not able to say with great accuracy. It will most likely be self-published (as were the first two books) and if that is indeed the case, I suspect that publication around Easter would be a reasonable guess. I have made some efforts to approach publishers and if it does get picked up by a publisher (Summersdale who published book 3 no longer publish many travelogues), the publication date would probably be pushed further into the year.

Cycling Home For Christmas… Along The Yorkshire Coast

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Markus Stitz is on his travels again, this time en route back home to Germany for Christmas and he’ll be passing along the Yorkshire coast to help publicise a new route that is going to be launched in January 2024 called Route YC. Not sure if it’s a different route to the traditional route along the Yorkshire coast that I followed myself back in 2019 (it was Wanda’s first ride) that included the Cinder Track from Scarborough to Whitby. Follow Markus’ progress in the next few days and I suppose we’ll find out…

La France À Vélo – À La Rencontre De Ses Habitants

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Time to dig out your French dictionary and start regretting not having done your French homework all those years ago. Here’s a fun – and very well made – film about cycling across France during the COVID 19 epidemic. His route is not dissimilar to that of my own journey south across France in 2022. Other films about cycling across France are available, notable my own… Thanks to the ever-supportive Simon Johnson for pointing me in the direction of Tortuga’s film. One for all lovers of France (and those in training to become one…)

Le Grand Tour: Day 47 – The Aftermath Of The Storm (Draft)

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Progress is being made on the book about 2022’s Grand Tour. The drat should be finished by the end of the year and then I can think about getting this fourth travelogue published for all the world to read. In advance, however, here’s another extract – in draft – that I have just completed. It recounts the day after the night before! There had been a storm at the end of day 46 and here I am picking up the pieces and getting my journey back on track as I cross the border from France and enter Switzerland…

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 076 – Tim Sanders – The Parenzana Trail / Venice to Munich

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Tim Sanders holds the accolade of being one of only two people to have attended every single Cycle Touring Festival since the event first appeared on the calendar in 2015. During this year’s event in Clitheroe he spoke to The Cycling Europe Podcast not only about the joys of the festival but also about a recent cycling journey that took him from the Istrian Peninsula on the Adriatic coast along the Parenzana Trail to Trieste and onwards over the Alps to Munich in southern Germany.

Episode 076: Tim Sanders – The Parenzana Trail / Venice to Munich

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Tim Sanders holds the accolade of being one of only two people to have attended every single Cycle Touring Festival since the event first appeared on the calendar in 2015. During this year’s event in Clitheroe he spoke to The Cycling Europe Podcast not only about the joys of the festival but also about a recent cycling journey that took him from the Istrian Peninsula on the Adriatic coast along the Parenzana Trail to Trieste and onwards over the Alps to Munich in southern Germany.

…And I’m Back!

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I last wrote something for the website about a month ago, way back on the 23rd September in the run-up to the Cycle Touring Festival. Since then, I’ve been a little busy with cycling and non-cycling matters. Hopefully this post brings everything up-to-date as autumn gradually edges towards […]

The Cycle Touring Festival 2023: Next weekend!

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The 2023 ‘in-person’ (as opposed to online) Cycle Touring Festival is only a week away! Taking place in Clitheroe and now in its 9th year, it will gather together the cycle touring community (or a small part of it) at Waddow Hall for two days of talks, discussions and kit comparison. All washed down with good food and beer. I have nothing to say this year and am not speaking (although I am leading the discussion on ‘France’ which will hopefully have more input from the audience than from me).

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 075 – Craig Fee – Cycling Into The Unknown

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In 2017, novice long-distance cyclist Craig Fee set off on a continental odyssey to cycle from London to his friend’s wedding in Florence, Italy. But had he bitten off more than he could chew? In his new book, Cycling Into The Unknown, he tells the story of the journey and in this episode of the podcast, he reflects upon the experience of setting off on a make-it-up-as-you-go cycle across Europe…

Episode 075: Craig Fee – Cycling Into The Unknown

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In 2017, novice long-distance cyclist Craig Fee set off on a continental odyssey to cycle from London to his friend’s wedding in Florence, Italy. But had he bitten off more than he could chew? In his new book, Cycling Into The Unknown, he tells the story of the journey and in this episode of the podcast, he reflects upon the experience of setting off on a make-it-up-as-you-go cycle across Europe…

Celebrity Race Across The World: Sound Familiar?

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Eight years after I cycled from the southernmost point of Europe at Tarifa in southern Spain to the continent’s northernmost point at Nordkapp in Norway, it seems a group of celebrities are following along a similar route. Kind of. Admittedly they are not cycling, they are not starting at Tarifa and not finishing at Nordkapp and following a very different route but let’s not quibble… They are still going to be crossing the continent from bottom to top, almost. Their journey will start in Morocco and will finish short of the northernmost point at Tromsø in Norway (why not go all the way to Nordkapp?) It will be interesting to watch.

EXCLUSIVE BOOK EXTRACT: Le Grand Tour – Cycling The Canal De La Garonne

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I continue to spend much of my time writing book four, my account of cycling around Europe in the summer of 2022. I have passed the half-way point in terms of time although not distance and am currently working on day 34 of the cycle. Below is what I have written for day 33. It was a day not without its self-inflicted challenges, mainly to do with my inability (on that day at least) to read my map… The completed book should be available in some way, shape or form towards the end of 2023 or early 2024. Look our for ‘Le Grand Tour’.

5-year Anniversary Of Record-Breaking Ride Across Europe 

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An opportunity to remind you about episode 073 of The Cycling Europe Podcast… “Leigh Timmis was a round-the-world cyclist who upon his return, was searching for another challenge to sink his teeth into. A fortuitous meeting with the head of his local cycling club introduced him to the idea of turning his attention to a world-record – namely The Fastest Cycle Across Europe (Cabo da Roca to Ufa). 

photo of city during dawn

Paris: À Vélo (Vélib’)

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Following my arrival in the Alps (see previous posts) I embarked upon a two-week trek along (most of) the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), one of the world’s classic hikes. Keep scrolling for a selection of photos but before you do, I did manage to squeeze in some cycling whilst passing through Paris on my way home. Yesterday evening, with a hiking colleague from the TMB group who had also made the correct decision to take the train home rather than fly, I cycled from my hotel down to the Eiffel Tower. This morning I set off again on a short Parisian odyssey on one of the Vélib’ eBikes taking in the Louvre, Champs Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Seine (a bit bumpy of the cobbles!) and back to the Gare du Nord.

Crossing Europe… By Train – Part 3

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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. It’s a ground floor room built for those with access needs. It would have been perfect if I’d had the bike with me. But I don’t…

Crossing Europe… By Train – Part 2

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And today, a bus. If I’d set off at the crack of dawn I could have caught a direct regional TER to ​Dijon. There are a couple every day from Paris Bercy station but I didn’t and neither did I fancy a long wait until the later train. So, I caught a TER to Laroche Migennes (no, I’d never heard of it either until this morning) where I could catch a ‘TER Bus’.

Crossing Europe… By Train – Part 1

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I’m off on my summer travels… 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 Paris’ lesser-known stations, Bercy.

Cycle Magazine: Le Grand Tour – Now Available Online

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If you are a member of Cycling UK and pay your £4 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…)

Yorkshire Day Special: Cycling The Way Of The Roses

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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 Rob’s 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 Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 074 – Cathryn Ramsden / Dale Majors / Gavin McCulloch / Rich Jeffries

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Cathryn Ramsden cycled with her husband and son from Calais to Annecy. Dale Majors has cycled with his wife and six young children on several long trips across Europe and in the US. Gavin McCulloch cycled to Moscow from Scotland in 1990. Rich Jeffries was reluctant to cycle across Belgium but loved it! In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast they share their experiences in bite-sized interviews and monologues. How do you persuade a 12-year-old boy to cycle hundreds of kilometres? How do you manage the logistics of travelling as a family group of eight? How do you feed yourself in Russia when the supermarkets are full of beetroot? And how do you overcome the urge to give Belgium a wide berth? 

Episode 074: Cathryn Ramsden / Dale Majors / Gavin McCulloch / Rich Jeffries 

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Cathryn Ramsden cycled with her husband and son from Calais to Annecy. Dale Majors has cycled with his wife and six young children on several long trips across Europe and in the US. Gavin McCulloch cycled to Moscow from Scotland in 1990. Rich Jeffries was reluctant to cycle across Belgium but loved it! In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast they share their experiences in bite-sized interviews and monologues. How do you persuade a 12-year-old boy to cycle hundreds of kilometres? How do you manage the logistics of travelling as a family group of eight? How do you feed yourself in Russia when the supermarkets are full of beetroot? And how do you overcome the urge to give Belgium a wide berth? 

Camping Along The Avenue Verte In France

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One part of last year’s Grand Tour around Europe that I was particularly impressed by was the French section of the Avenue Verte that links London with Paris. I didn’t, of course, start in London; I joined the route in Dieppe and then headed south towards the French capital. It had everything that you might want when it comes to cycle touring; off-road cycling along disused railway lines, interesting places to visit, beautiful countryside and even for me in the summer of 2022, amazing weather.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 073 – Leigh Timmis – The Race Of Truth

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Disillusioned by life in the post-graduation rat race of the film industry, Leigh Timmis set off on his bike and spent seven years cycling around the world. When he finally returned home to the UK, he didn’t reach for his pipe and slippers. Far from it…“In 2018, Leigh Timmis became the fastest person to cycle across Europe – in just 16 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes – breaking the previous world record by an astonishing 8 days and 17 hours. But when he set out to break the record, Leigh wasn’t just trying to conquer the road… Although test results showed that he already had the physical ability of an elite athlete, something was holding him back: his troubled mind… Cycling for 14 hours a day, from the west coast of Portugal to the edge of Siberia, he embarked on far more than just a physical journey. The Race of Truth is the remarkable true story of personal transformation against the clock, and the astonishing feats we can accomplish when we face up to our deepest fears.”

Episode 073: Leigh Timmis – The Race Of Truth

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Disillusioned by life in the post-graduation rat race of the film industry, Leigh Timmis set off on his bike and spent seven years cycling around the world. When he finally returned home to the UK, he didn’t reach for his pipe and slippers. Far from it… “In 2018, Leigh Timmis became the fastest person to cycle across Europe – in just 16 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes – breaking the previous world record by an astonishing 8 days and 17 hours. But when he set out to break the record, Leigh wasn’t just trying to conquer the road… Although test results showed that he already had the physical ability of an elite athlete, something was holding him back: his troubled mind… Cycling for 14 hours a day, from the west coast of Portugal to the edge of Siberia, he embarked on far more than just a physical journey. The Race of Truth is the remarkable true story of personal transformation against the clock, and the astonishing feats we can accomplish when we face up to our deepest fears.”

“How Did You Remember That?”

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It’s a question I am occasionally asked. My quest to re-cycle the route of last year’s Grand Tour around Europe in written form continues… Today I will hopefully ‘arrive’ in La Rochelle. It was one of the longest days of cycling from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie to La Rochelle on the west coast of France. 140km in total. At least the landscape was flat and it was a beautifully sunny day. This is the fourth book that I will have written about my travels on a bike. When I think back to writing that first book, it was very much a detective job as I didn’t record much information about the cycle from southern England to southern Italy in 2010; a few short web posts, a few photos, no video to speak of and not even a GPS track. Why would I bother? It wasn’t as if I was ever going to need all that detail again…

EXCLUSIVE: Le Grand Tour – Day 26

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In the writing of the book about last year’s Grand Tour of Europe, I’ve arrived in the west of France, at a small family-run campsite near the coastal town of La Bernerie-en-Retz. I occasionally post what I’ve written to the website and below you can read my account of day 26 of the journey that took place in late July 2022. I have to say that this fourth book is taking me far longer to write than the previous books, but that’s for good reasons rather than bad. I have no pressure with this one. I ticked the box of having a book published through official channels with ‘Spain to Norway…’ and have as yet made no effort whatsoever to find a publisher for this fourth instalment of my travels. As a result, I have no deadline to finish the first draft. It will happen later in the year, perhaps even in early 2024 but I do feel that the quality of what I am writing is benefiting from the lack of external pressure. You may ultimately agree or disagree… but you might have to wait until the spring of 2024 to find out. If you are a publisher, feel free to get in touch.

The Culzean Way

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Here’s an interesting email from the cyclist and filmmaker Marcus Stitz… I’ve featured his films on CyclingEurope.org before; he is based in Scotland and many of his films are about routes in Scotland but he also ventures further afield. The Culzean Way, however, is one of his Scottish films and when I saw the name I did think it sounded familiar. I’ve just realised why… Culzean Castle!

Cycle Magazine June / July 2023… And Le Grand Tour

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Welcome to June… and to the summer of 2023. Well, if the first is your definition of summer. There are several from which to choose. My focus over the next few months will be continue to write the first draft of my new book about last year’s ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. I’m now heading south along the Vélodyssée in the west of France (day 25 of around 60) so I should have that draft ready by the end of the summer. However, earlier this year I was approached by Dan Joyce, the editor of Cycling UK’s Cycle magazine, asking if would be able to contribute an article about last year’s cycle. That article has now been published and if you are a member of Cycling UK, you should have received your copy of the magazine in the last few days. It’s the June / July issue.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 072 – Greg Yeoman – Cycling Across Russia In 1993

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In 1993, recently graduated student Greg Yeoman set off with his Australian friend Kate Leeming on a cycling expedition of nearly 13,000km, from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. In a journey that is currently impossible, they pedalled across the entire length of post-Soviet Russia, exploring the landscapes and meeting the people as they went. 30 years later, he looks back on his epic adventure.

Episode 072: Greg Yeoman – Cycling Across Russia In 1993

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In 1993, recently graduated student Greg Yeoman set off with his Australian friend Kate Leeming on a cycling expedition of nearly 13,000km, from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. In a journey that is currently impossible, they pedalled across the entire length of post-Soviet Russia, exploring the landscapes and meeting the people as they went. 30 years later, he looks back on his epic adventure.