Category: Adventure

Episode 070: Crossing Europe On A Bike Called Reggie – Part 1

“The academic year must have been a difficult one as when the summer holidays arrived, secondary school teacher Andrew Sykes was happy to do as little as possible. But while sitting on his sofa watching the exploits of the cyclists at the Great Wall of China at the Beijing Olympics, he realised the error of his ways and resolved to put a bit more adventure into his life. Two years later, accompanied by his faithful companion Reggie (his bike) but only a rudimentary plan, Andrew set off for a trans-continental cycling adventure that would take him along the route of the Via Francigena and the Eurovelo 5 all the way from his home in southern England to Brindisi in the south of Italy. There were highs and lows, rain and shine, joy and despair and they are all recounted here in a light-hearted, brisk style.”

Camping & Hiking In Wasdale And Eskdale

I’ve just made a return trip to The Lake District and the National Trust campsite in Wasdale. I stayed there for a couple of nights back in 2018 when I climbed Scafell Pike (see the film at the foot of this post). Last week I was there with a friend to do some hiking in and around the valley. I wasn’t on the bike so this is one for HikingEurope.org rather than CyclingEurope.org although we did drive up the Hardknott Pass, one of Britain’s more challenging cycling climbs. It was hard work in a car never mind on a bike but perhaps one to add to the list of future two-wheeled challenges…

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 069 – Susan and Ron Crump – Cycling Amsterdam to Athens

In the autumn of 2022, Susan and Ron Crump, a retired couple from Kentucky in the USA set off on their first cycle tour. Instead of dipping their toes in the shallow end of the cycle touring pool, they plunged into the deep end by embarking upon a 3,500km cycle from Amsterdam to Athens. Along with two more experienced cycle touring friends – Pam and Ralph – this is the story of their trip; the preparation, the execution and the aftermath. They may have been jumping for joy upon arrival in Athens but were they jumping for joy throughout the cycle? And has the trip been a springboard for future rides or will their next visit to Europe be on a cruise ship?ย 

Episode 069: Susan and Ron Crump – Cycling Amsterdam to Athens

In the autumn of 2022, Susan and Ron Crump, a retired couple from Kentucky in the USA set off on their first cycle tour. Instead of dipping their toes in the shallow end of the cycle touring pool, they plunged into the deep end by embarking upon a 3,500km cycle from Amsterdam to Athens. Along with two more experienced cycle touring friends – Pam and Ralph – this is the story of their trip; the preparation, the execution and the aftermath. They may have been jumping for joy upon arrival in Athens but were they jumping for joy throughout the cycle? And has the trip been a springboard for future rides or will their next visit to Europe be on a cruise ship?ย 

Le Grand Tour… In 57 Varieties

Well, images… I’ve just written something for the June / July edition of Cycling UK’s Cycle Magazine (the April / May edition landed on my doorstep yesterday morning as I was typing) about last year’s Grand Tour of Europe and I was asked to provide some images. The magazine doesn’t need anywhere near 57 images so I thought I’d share them here. You will, of course, have to wait until June to read the article itself. In the meantime you could catch up on the Grand Tour podcast and films. All the links are below…

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

Tony Lenihan, a retired policeman, works for his local council in the English Midlands as their โ€˜Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinatorโ€™. Heโ€™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 experiencesโ€ฆ but also about โ€˜active travelโ€™ in the UK and how the country measures up (or not) to its European neighbours.ย 

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

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

Tony Lenihan, a retired policeman, works for his local council in the English Midlands as their โ€˜Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinatorโ€™. Heโ€™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 experiencesโ€ฆ but also about โ€˜active travelโ€™ in the UK and how the country measures up (or not) to its European neighbours.ย 

Comfort And Convenience In Clothing For Cycling โ€” Tips And Tricks

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!”

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, Lโ€™Avenue Verte to Paris, La Vรฉloscรฉnie to Mont St Michel before rejoining the EuroVelo 4 to Morlaix, the EuroVelo 1 / Vรฉlodyssรฉe to Royan, the Canal de la Garonne to Toulouse, the Canal du Midi to Sรจte, the EuroVelo 17 beside the Rhรดne 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

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

Tony Lenihan, a retired policeman, works for his local council in the English Midlands as their โ€˜Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinatorโ€™. Heโ€™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.ย  He talked to The Cycling Europe Podcast about his continental experiencesโ€ฆ but also about โ€˜active travelโ€™ in the UK and how the country measures up (or not) to its European neighbours.ย 

asphalt road leading to the summit of mont ventoux

Cycling Mont Ventoux: Everything You Need To Knowย 

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 Rhรดne valley, the southern Alps, and even the Pyrenees when the air is clear.ย 

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 067 – Cycling In Brittany – Tim Boden / Geoff Husband

In June 2022, Tim Boden – an experienced group cyclist – set off on his first solo cycle tour, to Brittany in north-west France. His route took him from the port of Roscoff along the Vรฉlodyssรฉe / EuroVelo 1 to Redon. He then joined French regional route number 42 to follow the coast to Saint-Nazaire before returning to the Vรฉlodyssรฉe for a cycle beside the Loire to Nantes and back to Redon. Here he rejoined the eastern portion of route 42 to cycle north to Saint-Malo. Tim talks about the routes but also the history and culture of this distinctive French region. We also revisit two encounters from episodes 55 & 56 with three French cyclists – Fabian, Julian and Guillaume – and, from Breton Bikes and Camping de Gouarec, Geoff Husband.

Episode 067: Cycling In Brittany – Tim Boden / Geoff Husband

In June 2022, Tim Boden – an experienced group cyclist – set off on his first solo cycle tour, to Brittany in north-west France. His route took him from the port of Roscoff along the Vรฉlodyssรฉe / EuroVelo 1 to Redon. He then joined French regional route number 42 to follow the coast to Saint-Nazaire beforeย  returning to the Vรฉlodyssรฉe for a cycle beside the Loire to Nantes and back to Redon. Here he rejoined the eastern portion of route 42 to cycle north to Saint-Malo. Tim talks about the routes but also the history and culture of this distinctive French region. We also revisit two encounters from episodes 55ย  & 56 with three French cyclists –ย  Fabian, Julian and Guillaume – and, from Breton Bikes and Camping de Gouarec, Geoff Husband.

YOUTUBE EXCLUSIVE: Episode 067 Of The Cycling Europe Podcast

In June 2022, Tim Boden – an experienced group cyclist – set off on his first solo cycle tour, to Brittany in north-west France. His route took him from the port of Roscoff along the Vรฉlodyssรฉe / EuroVelo 1 to Redon. He then joined French regional route number 42 to follow the coast to Saint-Nazaire beforeย  returning to the Vรฉlodyssรฉe for a cycle beside the Loire to Nantes and back to Redon. Here he rejoined the eastern portion of route 42 to cycle north to Saint-Malo. Tim talks about the routes but also the history and culture of this distinctive French region. We also revisit two encounters from episodes 55ย  & 56 with three French cyclists –ย  Fabian, Julian and Guillaume – and, from Breton Bikes and Camping de Gouarec, Geoff Husband.

What Camping Mat? Well, I Did Ask…

It’s very much a first world problem but… I’ve lost count of the number of camping mats that I have bought and used over the years. I tend to swing from expensive mat (usually a Thermarest) to cheap mat (own brand Go Outdoors etc…) and back again. The issue I’ve had with Thermarest mats – especially on the long trips that I have undertaken – is that they develop blisters which make it almost impossible to have a comfortable night of ‘sleep’*. I suspect that I am overinflating them. The cheaper mats are just air and they can be quite cold.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 066 – Cycling On Tenerife

A few months ago I was approached by Jet2 Holidays who asked if I would be interested in discovering the joys of cycling in one of their winter destinations in southern Europe. Of course I said yes and had a look at the map. Where would be nice and warm in the middle of February? The Canary Islands seemed the most likely place to deliver good weather so I arranged to travel to Costa Adeje on the island of Tenerife. I hired a bike and headed along the coast and up the hillsโ€ฆ This was a different approach to travelling on two wheels. How did I get on without a tent and four panniers but in a luxury hotel on an unfamiliar bicycle?

Episode 066: Cycling On Tenerife

A few months ago I was approached by Jet2 Holidays who asked if I would be interested in discovering the joys of cycling in one of their winter destinations in southern Europe. Of course I said yes and had a look at the map. Where would be nice and warm in the middle of February? The Canary Islands seemed the most likely place to deliver good weather so I arranged to travel to Costa Adeje on the island of Tenerife. I hired a bike and headed along the coast and up the hillsโ€ฆ This was a different approach to travelling on two wheels. How did I get on without a tent and four panniers but in a luxury hotel on an unfamiliar bicycle?

Returning To Le Grand Tour… In Sheffield

In the last week there’s been a lot about Tenerife but now that I’ve returned to the UK from my short break on the Canary Islands, the focus returns to Le Grand Tour, my 5,000km cycle around France, Switzerland and then down the Rhine in the summer of 2022. Hopefully many of you will have been able to watch the series of four films that were published back in December – they are all available on the Cycling Europe YouTube Channel (see links below) – and listened to the series of podcasts that were released during the journey itself. I’ve spoken about my journey at a couple of events since returning from the continent; at the Cycle Touring Festival and then at my local Cycling UK group here in West Yorkshire. Next week, however, I’m heading south! Not too far… Just to Sheffield at the invitation of the Sheffield CTC group:

YOUTUBE EXCLUSIVE: Episode 066 Of The Cycling Europe Podcast

A few months ago I was approached by Jet2 Holidays who asked if I would be interested in discovering the joys of cycling in one of their winter destinations in southern Europe. Of course I said yes and had a look at the map. Where would be nice and warm in the middle of February? The Canary Islands seemed the most likely place to deliver good weather so I arranged to travel to Costa Adeje on the island of Tenerife. I hired a bike and headed along the coast and up the hills… This was a different approach to travelling on two wheels. How did I get on without a tent and four panniers but in a luxury hotel on an unfamiliar bicycle?Show less

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 065 – Matthew Sturgeon โ€“ Cycling To Mainland Britainโ€™s Lighthouses

Matthew Sturgeon is an architect and cyclist from Ilkley in Yorkshire and heโ€™s onย  a mission to visit every one of mainland Britainโ€™s 186 lighthouses. Inspired by his late late wife Angela, who raised ยฃ40,000 for cancer research, Matthew is raising money for his A Bit Of A Break charity. It funds visits for cancer patients and their families to holiday properties around the UK. He started collecting his lighthouses with a ride along the Northumbrian coast and has now visited 100. But why lighthouses? Whatโ€™s his favourite lighthouse? What has been the most disappointing lighthouse? What has been the most difficult to cycle to? And what will be lighthouse number 186? Matthew tells his story to The Cycling Europe Podcastโ€ฆ

Episode 065: Matthew Sturgeon โ€“ Cycling To Mainland Britainโ€™s Lighthouses

Matthew Sturgeon is an architect and cyclist from Ilkley in Yorkshire and heโ€™s onย  a mission to visit every one of mainland Britainโ€™s 186 lighthouses. Inspired by his late late wife Angela, who raised ยฃ40,000 for cancer research, Matthew is raising money for his A Bit Of A Break charity. It funds visits for cancer patients and their families to holiday properties around the UK. He started collecting his lighthouses with a ride along the Northumbrian coast and has now visited 100. But why lighthouses? Whatโ€™s his favourite lighthouse? What has been the most disappointing lighthouse? What has been the most difficult to cycle to? And what will be lighthouse number 186? Matthew tells his story to The Cycling Europe Podcastโ€ฆ

Susanna Thornton: “Hong Kong To London, A Big Bicycle Adventure”

After posting the latest episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast to YouTube yesterday, someone called Rat Whittleym commented asking “Have you watched Susanna Thornton on here? Very inspirational”. Sharon Merredew followed that up by posting “Would you be able to interview Susanna at some point? Sheโ€™s amazing.” I don’t think I had ever heard of Susanna Thornton before so I did an online search. She has a YouTube page – quite a simple one – with a number of cycling / bikepacking / cycle touring videos, many recounting tales of her travels on a Brompton. Her latest video was uploaded only yesterday and it looks back at a cycle she completed in 2006 which took her from Hong Kong where she had lived for some years to London where she had been offered a new role by the company she worked for.

YOUTUBE EXCLUSIVE: Episode 065 Of The Cycling Europe Podcast

Matthew Sturgeon is an architect and cyclist from Ilkley in Yorkshire and heโ€™s onย  a mission to visit every one of mainland Britainโ€™s 186 lighthouses. Inspired by his late late wife Angela, who raised ยฃ40,000 for cancer research, Matthew is raising money for his A Bit Of A Break charity. It funds visits for cancer patients and their families to holiday properties around the UK. He started collecting his lighthouses with a ride along the Northumbrian coast and has now visited 100. But why lighthouses? Whatโ€™s his favourite lighthouse? What has been the most disappointing lighthouse? What has been the most difficult to cycle to? And what will be lighthouse number 186? Matthew tells his story to The Cycling Europe Podcastโ€ฆ

EuroVelo 8 – Mediterranean Route: (My) Once-In-A-lifetime Experience

It will soon be 10 years that I set off to cycle along the Mediterranean coast from Cape Sounio in southern Greece to Cape St. Vincent in southern Portugal. My route was inspired by the EuroVelo 8, although it was much less developed back then than it is today. I saw some EuroVelo 8 signs in Catalonia but aside from that, I’m not quite sure I saw any elsewhere. And after Valencia, when I was beginning to run short of time – I needed to be back at work at the beginning of September – I headed inland, away from the coast in order to complete the journey without resorting to jumping on the train.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 064 – Laura Massey-Pugh – Around The World On A Tandem

An ever-increasing number of people have cycled around the world. Not many have done it on a tandem. Even fewer have broken a world record in the process. Laura Massey-Pugh was on the back and her husband Stevie was on the front of their custom-made tandem when, in June 2022 they set off from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, destination the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. 175 days later they completed their journey. Before setting off, Laura recorded a short monologue for episode 32 of The Cycling Europe Podcast. Now she returns to tell the full story of what it means to cycle 18,000 miles around the globe. Is it as easy as riding a, errโ€ฆ tandem?

Episode 064: Laura Massey-Pugh – Around The World On A Tandem

An ever-increasing number of people have cycled around the world. Not many have done it on a tandem. Even fewer have broken a world record in the process. Laura Massey-Pugh was on the back and her husband Stevie was on the front of their custom-made tandem when, in June 2022 they set off from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, destination the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. 175 days later they completed their journey. Before setting off, Laura recorded a short monologue for episode 32 of The Cycling Europe Podcast. Now she returns to tell the full story of what it means to cycle 18,000 miles around the globe. Is it as easy as riding a, errโ€ฆ tandem?ย  ย 

Markus Stitz: Home Is Where The Trails Take You

A new film from Germanyโ€™s permanent representative to the Scottish bike packing fraternityโ€‹. His reputation precedes him and he has featured many times previously on the pages of CyclingEurope.org. He is, of course, Markus Stitz. This time his filmmaking skills have taken him to the Cairngorms National Park to discover is cycle routes and meet its peopleโ€ฆ

The (Virtual) Cycle Touring Festival 2023

Regular listeners to The Cycling Europe Podcast will see some familiar names on the list of participants in this yearโ€™s virtual Cycle Touring Festival. From Timmy Mallet to Anna Hughes, from Candy Whittome to Rob Ainsley. Just four of the many speakers at the event which takes place from Saturday 28th January to Sunday 5th February.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 063 – Beth Ward – Wales To Istanbul And Drosi Bikes

โ€œHours, days, weeks and months in the saddle does something funny to your brain. We came back from the trip convinced that cycling was the answer to all of lifeโ€™s problems and that if we could convince every last one of you to choose a bike not a car, weโ€™d be well on our way to saving the planet. Easy, right?!โ€ Those are the words of Beth Ward who, alongside her partner Robin, cycled from Wales to Istanbul in 2019. As they pedalled an idea grew in their minds to set up a community bike workshop. When they returned home, thatโ€™s exactly what they did in Llangollen. Beth has now been included in Cycling UKโ€™s list of 100 women in cycling in 2022. The Cycling Europe Podcast headed down the Dee Valley to investigateโ€ฆย  ย 

Episode 063: Beth Ward – Wales To Istanbul & Drosi Bikes

โ€œHours, days, weeks and months in the saddle does something funny to your brain. We came back from the trip convinced that cycling was the answer to all of lifeโ€™s problems and that if we could convince every last one of you to choose a bike not a car, weโ€™d be well on our way to saving the planet. Easy, right?!โ€ Those are the words of Beth Ward who, alongside her partner Robin, cycled from Wales to Istanbul in 2019. As they pedalled an idea grew in their minds to set up a community bike workshop. When they returned home, thatโ€™s exactly what they did in Llangollen. Beth has now been included in Cycling UKโ€™s list of 100 women in cycling in 2022. The Cycling Europe Podcast headed down the Dee Valley to investigateโ€ฆย  ย 

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 062 – Jeremy Wilson – Beryl Burton – โ€˜Britainโ€™s Greatest Athleteโ€™

Beryl Burton was born in Yorkshire on May 12th 1937. Her upbringing was tough. Her school report described her as a ‘stubborn little mule. At the age of 10 she spent 9 months in hospital and doctors told her never to ride a bike uphill. She went on to become one of Britain’s greatest ever athletes – of either sex – and a cycling world champion seven times over. She was the country’s ‘best all-rounder’ female cyclist for 25 consecutive years from 1959 to 1983. She died, cycling, a few days short of her 59th birthday in 1996. Jeremy Wilson – chief sports reporter for The Daily Telegraph – has written an awarding-winning book about the life of this cycling enigma who remains little known outside her home county or the world of cycle racing.

Episode 062: Jeremy Wilson – Beryl Burton – โ€˜Britainโ€™s Greatest Athleteโ€™

Beryl Burton was born in Yorkshire on May 12th 1937. Her upbringing was tough. Her school report described her as a ‘stubborn little mule. At the age of 10 she spent 9 months in hospital and doctors told her never to ride a bike uphill. She went on to become one of Britain’s greatest ever athletes – of either sex – and a cycling world champion seven times over. She was the country’s ‘best all-rounder’ female cyclist for 25 consecutive years from 1959 to 1983. She died, cycling, a few days short of her 59th birthday in 1996. Jeremy Wilson – chief sports reporter for The Daily Telegraph – has written an awarding-winning book about the life of this cycling enigma who remains little known outside her home county or the world of cycle racing.

Rediscovering My Cycling Naivety

When I started this website back in 2008 (yes, getting on for 14 years ago…) I came to the whole endeavour as a naive touring cyclist. When I wrote ‘Crossing Europe…’ many people commented upon how they had enjoyed experiencing the cycling journey from southern England to southern Italy from the perspective of an inexperienced two-wheeled traveller who, quite frankly, didn’t know what he was doing for much of the time. That epitaph has become increasingly tenuous in the past decade as, inevitably, I have learnt what to do. I’m still learning but it would be disingenuous to continue to refer to myself as ‘naive’. Or rather it is in the world of cycle touring. I still consider myself to be very inexperienced in many other areas of cycling including the one that involves donning tight lycra and heading out for the day with minimal kit on a bicycle designed for speed…

Beryl: In Search of Britainโ€™s Greatest Athlete

After a mid-winter break of a few weeks whilst I was busy editing the four episodes of Le Grand Tour films, the podcast returns in the New Year and the first episode of 2023 – number 062 – will feature a fascinating interview with the journalist Jeremy Wilson. He has written an award-winning book – none other than the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2022 – about the extraordinary life and cycling times of Beryl Burton. In the week before I spoke to Jeremy I spent many thoroughly enjoyable hours reading the book, making notes as I turned the pages in preparation for the interview. In this pre-podcast podcast post (OK, shameless publicity tease…) you can read what I jotted down. Those notes will hopefully whet your appetite for listening to episode 062 of The Cycling Europe Podcast which will be published on Sunday 1st January 2023. In the meantime… Happy Christmas!

grayscale photo of mountain under cloudy sky

Cycling (And Not Cycling) On Tenerife (And Not Tenerife)

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that in mid-February I will be travelling to Tenerife for a few days of winter cycling. It won’t quite by ‘cycle-touring’ in the traditional sense, more a combination of travelling and then cycling whilst being based in the same place, a hotel in southern Tenerife. Although I still need to check all the details, I’ve been told that I will be able to hire a bike at the hotel and my trusty steeds – Wanda and Ronnie (and my rather rusty steed Reggie…) – will be left at home for the duration.

Warmshowers: Changes For 2023

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.

A Gem? Serious Wanderlust? TV-Level Production?

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

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

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

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.

Le Grand Tour: Part 3 – La Vรฉloscรฉnie (Paris To Mont-Saint-Michel)

Later this year I will be releasing a film about my 5,500km journey by bicycle and train from the Hook of Holland, along the Dutch and Belgian coasts, anticlockwise around France, into Switzerland beside the Rhone and finally along the Rhine to Rotterdam. Editing takes time but, in anticipation of the full film being finished by the end of 2022, here’s a 10-minute segment of the film that tells the story of my cycle along La Vรฉloscรฉnie from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel via Chartres, Nogent-le-Rotrou and Domfront. Wacth out for the Musรฉe du Vรฉlo! The music is from the skilled fingers of Rob Ainsley and the audio commentary is taken from episode 054 of The Cycling Europe Podcast.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 061 – The 1903 Tour De France… On A Brompton

Gareth Dent has a long-term relationship with small-wheeled bicycles. Growing up in Stevenage in the late 1960s he made the most of the townโ€™s futuristic network of cycle routes on his 14โ€ Moulton Mini. 40 years later he rekindled his love for small wheels during an organised folding bike challenge from London to Paris, in the process meeting a group of like-minded enthusiasts. It was with these new friends that , several years later, he started to cycle the route of the 1903 Tour de France, in stages, over 4 years.ย The interview was recorded in Halifaxโ€™s covered market where we also bumped into Tony, the West Yorkshire townโ€™s own proponent of small-wheeled cycling. He had much to sayโ€ฆ

Episode 061: The 1903 Tour De France… On A Brompton

Gareth Dent has a long-term relationship with small-wheeled bicycles. Growing up in Stevenage in the late 1960s he made the most of the townโ€™s futuristic network of cycle routes on his 14โ€ Moulton Mini. 40 years later he rekindled his love for small wheels during an organised folding bike challenge from London to Paris, in the process meeting a group of like-minded enthusiasts. It was with these new friends that , several years later, he started to cycle the route of the 1903 Tour de France, in stages, over 4 years.ย The interview was recorded in Halifaxโ€™s covered market where we also bumped into Tony, the West Yorkshire townโ€™s own proponent of small-wheeled cycling. He had much to sayโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: The Film – Coming Soon…

Although during the trip I posted short daily videos recounting the tale of my cycle around Europe this summer, the main reason for filming what I did was to make a film about the cycle from the Hook of Holland to the Hook of Holland. It’s quite a daunting task editing 2,500 videos into one film of about an hour but over the next few weeks that’s the plan. To whet your appetite, I have started by creating an into. You can watch it below.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 060 – Cycling The Route of โ€˜The Wheels Of Chanceโ€™ By H.G. Wells

Tristam Newey is a science-fiction writer from Southampton who loves all things sea, air, space.. and cycling. Inspired by H.G.Wellsโ€™ 1896 comic novelย The Wheels of Chance, in July 2022 Tristam set off to retrace the journey of the bookโ€™s main protagonist, Mr. Hoopdriver โ€“ a frustrated draperโ€™s assistant from Putney โ€“ from London to the south coast of England (and halfway back). As he travelled, he rediscovered the places that H.G. Wells wrote about and recreated the sketches that appeared in the original book. In the words of H.G. Wells himself, โ€œWhoop for freedom and adventure!โ€,

Episode 060: Cycling The Route of ‘The Wheels Of Chance’ By H.G. Wells

Tristam Newey is a science-fiction writer from Southampton who loves all things sea, air, space.. and cycling. Inspired by H.G.Wells’ 1896 comic novel The Wheels of Chance, in July 2022 Tristam set off to retrace the journey of the book’s main protagonist, Mr. Hoopdriver – a frustrated draper’s assistant from Putney – from London to the south coast of England (and halfway back). As he travelled, he rediscovered the places that H.G. Wells wrote about and recreated the sketches that appeared in the original book. In the words of H.G. Wells himself, “Whoop for freedom and adventure!”,

The Cycle Touring Festival (Lightโ€ฆ) Returns This Weekend!

After over 3 years of virtual get-togethers, the Cycle Touring Festival returns to its regular home in Clitheroe this weekend for a paired-down gathering. There will be a range of speakers offering their thoughts on the noble art of travelling by bicycle, including a certain Andrew Sykes who will be talking for the first time about his 2022 5,500km quest from The Hook of Holland to The Hook of Holland. It should be a fun weekendโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: The View From On High

It’s now two weeks since I arrived back in the UK after the summer’s jaunt around Europe with Wanda (the bike…). It’s been an interesting couple of weeks to say the least. On a personal level, I finally feel as though I’ve caught up with things. It was a rather sudden turnaround from being long-distance cyclist to secondary school teacher – about 18 hours to be precise – but after two weekends I’m finally in a position to say everything is ‘sorted’. Well, apart from that cupboard crammed full of my camping equipment but at least I can’t see it unless I make the effort to open the door.

Episode 059: Le Grand Tour, Part 8 – The Rhine Cycle Route / EuroVelo 15

The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he concludes his โ€˜Grand Tourโ€™ cycle around Europe. In this episode of the podcast, after completing his ride along the Via Rhรดna / EuroVelo 17 in Andermatt, Switzerland, he sets off to cycle the Rhine from its source high in the Alps to the North Sea at Rotterdam. His journey takes him along the Rhine valley in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, France, Germany and The Netherlands meeting friends and strangers as he pedals. Will the Rhine Cycle Route (EuroVelo 15) live up to its reputation as one of the best cycling routes in Europe? And will he make it back to the Hook of Holland – the place where he started his journey over two months ago – in time for his ferry home to the UK? This is not just a cycle touring story; itโ€™s a race against time! The music is by Rob Ainsley.ย 

Le Grand Tour: Day 63 – Rotterdam To The Hook Of Holland (39km)

So there it is. Finished. After 63 days, 55 cycling days, around 4,700km, 7 countries, 10 train journeys, lots of ferries (small and large), 45 nights in the tent, 11 nights in hotels, 4 with WarmShowers hosts, 1 with a friend and a night with a Vriendren op de Fiets host, 8 episodes of The Cycling Europe Podcast (the final part 8 episode should be published tomorrow morning upon arrival back in the UK), over 60 (almost) daily videosโ€ฆ and zero punctures, I arrived back at The Hook of Holland earlier today after the relatively short cycle from central Rotterdam and in doing so completed the โ€˜Grand Tourโ€™ loop. Itโ€™s been fun.

Le Grand Tour: Day 62 – Arnhem To Rotterdam (161km)

The longest day of the trip but it needed to be.itโ€™s now Saturday morning and I still have around 60km of cycling today: 30km from central Rotterdam to the Hook of Holland and then, back up and down the Rhine to the end of one of the other fingers of land to the ferry. Check-in closes at 7pm tonight so I have plenty of time to complete those 60km but if I had stopped yesterday east of Rotterdam that might not have been the case.ย 

Le Grand Tour: Day 61 – Hรผrth/Cologne To Arnhem (16km + Train + 70km)

Today has been a real joy. Everything came together in a celestial meeting of cycle touring, travelling, people, places, weatherโ€ฆ I loved it. Even the trains joined the party after an initial reluctance to play ball at Cologne station this morning. With only 48 hours of this continental odyssey remaining, I couldnโ€™t wish to have spent a more enjoyable day in the saddle. Even that pesky wind which, for much of the past week, has been annoying me in a manner that usually only a tiresome Year 9 student can achieve came to the party and blew me along the banks of the Rhine willing me to get to Rotterdam on time. Fabulous. I only wish you could have been here.

Le Grand Tour: Day 60 – Braubach To Hรผrth / Cologne (121km)

Itโ€™s now day 61 and itโ€™s turning out to be a โ€˜funโ€™ morning. Iโ€™m booked onto a train to Xanten from Cologne but in chaotic scenes very reminiscent of taking a train in the UK, there is some confusion regarding the train that arrived on platform 4 a few minutes ago, wouldnโ€™t let passengers on and then scarpered. I need to change at Duisburgโ€ฆ Iโ€™m forcing myself into โ€˜zenโ€™ mode. It might have been easier to keep cycling and take the train from a quieter station. The plan was to arrive in Xanten – famed for its Roman ruins I Iearnt last night – then cycle over the border into The Netherlands. Come back later today to find out if that ever happens or whether Iโ€™m still here in Germany. Or indeed Cologneโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 59 – Gernsheim To Braubach (135km)

Such a contrast after three tedious days of cycling. The Rhine has come back to me! It was an epic day in terms of length – 130km – but also in terms of the environment. Finally the steep-sided Rhine valley has materialised and those cliff-top castles have appeared. Today was up there with some of the best cycles of the entire summer 2022 โ€˜Grand Tourโ€™ journey. Enjoy the pictures and the videos as I have little energy to add much to what you can seeโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 58 – Philippsburg To Gernsheim (110km)

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 canโ€™t take a cycling holiday back to the shop and ask for a refund.

Le Grand Tour: Day 57 – Kehl To Phlippsburg (123km)

The best thing about day 57 is that it wasnโ€™t day 56. Thatโ€™s not to say that day 57 will go down in history as being a great day of cycling but it wasnโ€™t anywhere near as monotonous as yesterdayโ€™s cycle. And in contrast (because itโ€™s not all about the cyclingโ€ฆ), 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 itโ€™s just me and the chap in the next tent who I saw for the first time about 30 seconds ago. Heโ€™s wearing a dressing gown and a head torch. Itโ€™s not a look that I have ever coveted on a campsite but who knows? Itโ€™s only 9pm. The evening could yet turn out to be an entertaining oneโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 56 – Kembs To Kehl (120km)

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. Tonightโ€™s short video is a boring one reflecting the day quite wellโ€ฆย 

Le Grand Tour: Day 55 – Konstanz To Kembs (59km + Train + 19km)

Baselโ€ฆ 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 Iโ€™m so delighted that Iโ€™ve 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. Itโ€™s one of those days when you are better off not reading this drivel and just watching the video.

Le Grand Tour: Day 53 – Valendas To Buchs (83km)

Life is getting complicated, for good reasons. Iโ€™m 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 โ€˜Crossing Europeโ€ฆโ€™?) who I havenโ€™t seen for many years, in Breganz, Austria in the late afternoon. I need a social secretary! Iโ€™m also hatching an interesting plan for Friday but more of that in due courseโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 52 – Andermatt To Valendas (62km)

And so this pan-European odyssey enters its final phase: the Rhine Cycle Route or EuroVelo 15. But before I could crack on with that this morning, I had some sorting out of loose ends from the penultimate phase: the Rhรดne Cycle Route or EuroVelo 17. I completed that route yesterday upon arrival in Andermatt but this morning finished putting together the podcast about cycling the Rhรดne. This included inserting a chat that I had with my neighbours on the campsite at Andermatt; a couple – Rich and Becca – from West Yorkshire of all places (my neck of the woods) who had cycled some of the route as well. The podcast was published this morning from cafรฉ at the train station in Andermatt but you donโ€™t have to go that far to find it: all the links are at CyclingEurope.org/Podcast.

Episode 058: Le Grand Tour, Part 7 – La Via Rhรดna / EuroVelo 17

The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his โ€˜Grand Tourโ€™ of Europe. In this episode of the podcast he sets off from the Mediterranean resort of Sรจte and follows the EuroVelo 17 – the Rhรดne Cycle Route (known as the Via Rhรดna in France) – to Andermatt, high in the Swiss Alps. Over 12 days he travels more than 1,000km from sea to source exploring the places and meeting the people as he cycles. The weather doesnโ€™t always make life easy and there will be some challenging cycling along the way. Itโ€™s an epic podcast for an epic journey along one of Europeโ€™s most iconic rivers but will he have the energy to climb to the Furka Pass on the final day of his cycle? The music is by Rob Ainsley.

Le Grand Tour: Day 51 – Ritzingen To Andermatt Via The Furka Pass (54km)

I did it! I arrived in my spiritual cycling home, Andermatt, a little earlier this afternoon after a lengthy, strenuous, exhilarating and ultimately beautifully satisfying climb to the Furka Pass. Iโ€™m now celebrating with the best CHF5 bottle of wine that the local Coop could sell me accompanied with some good old bread and cheese. This is what cycle-camping is all about!

Le Grand Tour: Day 50 – Sierre To Ritzingen (74km)

Iโ€™m running out of energy today. Not me personally but my electrical gear. In sorting out my gear last week at the โ‚ฌ35 campsite when the heavens opened and the tent ended up hosting the 2022 Lac Lรฉman swimming championships at the end where my feet are currently positioned, my battery pack stopped working and I inadvertently left the two cables I need to attach my phone to the front wheel dynamo hub somewhere. Although I replaced the battery pack in Aigle, I wonโ€™t be able to replace the cables. Added to this, my WarmShowers host Jean-Daniel has some very curious Swiss sockets in his house and I wasnโ€™t able to charge anything overnight. I have 30% of charge left on this phone and my battery pack is currently being charged in the reception. That should see me through tomorrow to Andermatt. I have made todayโ€™s video but a combination of this lack of power and the Swiss love of 3G as opposed to 4G you are going to have to wait to see it until at least Monday.

Le Grand Tour: Day 49 – Aigle To Sierre (81km)

On one level – the cycling level – it has been a pretty standard day. Dare I say boring? A flat ride, 90% off road on a good quality path beside the Rhรดne following the route of the EuroVelo 17 or, as it is known locally, national route 1. Sticking to just the cycling for a moment, I say โ€˜flat rideโ€™โ€ฆ I knew I was heading uphill but couldnโ€™t help feel that I was heading downhill. After the turn to cycle east following my brief pause in Martigny, the wind was behind me so this may have added to the sensation of cycling down a very gentle gradient but I think of more significance is the valley itself. Iโ€™ve experienced this before (although not that dubious โ€˜Electric Brayโ€™ place on the west coast of Scotland where I was singularly unimpressedโ€ฆ) in northern Spain in 2019. There too I was cycling through a valley, knew I was cycling uphill beside a river heading in the opposite direction, but had a distinct feeling of going downhill all day. Itโ€™s the brain seeing something – the narrow valley with steep slopes on either side – and convincing the body that it is indeed what the brain sees, despite conclusive evidence to the contrary.

Le Grand Tour: Day 48 – Aigle

As I thought I would, I have spent the day in Aigle. It rained heavily overnight, continued raining this morning and this afternoon and only decided to stop at around 3pm. It remains very overcast with the clouds hanging around the mountains that surround the town on three sides and it wouldnโ€™t surprise me in the least if we are in for more rain later today. Tomorrow morning there is a chance of rain but things are looking much brighter for the afternoon and continuing into the weekend and next week. Back to you Huwโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 45 – Sault-Brรฉnaz To Seyssel (112km)

Running a bit late tonight. It was a long day of cycling (although not the longest) but thoroughly enjoyable. I hesitate before I say this (as I would need to think more carefully about all the others) but today was up there with one of the best days so far; not just on the Via Rhรดna but on the entire cycle so far. Another celebration of bridges as you will discover if you choose to watch the video. I hold back on the Hans Zimmer score but todayโ€™s video merited itโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 44 – Lyon To Sault-Brรฉnaz (81km)

I donโ€™t like Mondaysโ€ฆ Someone has beaten me to the song. I really donโ€™t like Mondays in France as most places are closed. There is a special corner in hell for bank holidays that happen to be on a Monday in France. Today was one of the latter. Nothing open whatsoever this morning. We are celebrating the โ€˜Assumption of Maryโ€™. Not being a man of religion I donโ€™t know what Mary was assuming but perhaps it was that there might be something, somewhere that was open to buy lunch on a Monday bank holiday in France. There isnโ€™t. Even the French are exasperated; one couple who were cycling in the opposite direction stopped me in desperation at around midday asking if Iโ€™d passed an รฉpicerie that was open. I hadnโ€™t. They broke down and sobbed beside the cycle path in desperation. I told them my plan was to survive on my box of peanuts until I could cook something in the evening. I scarpered as quickly as I could lest they use force in getting hold of the cacahuรจtes. When I did I turn to look, I could see them chasing after me using surprisingly fluent Chaucerian language vowing to prise the peanuts from my hands. The entente cordiale only goes so farโ€ฆ They were my peanuts. I digress.

Le Grand Tour: Day 43 – Tain Lโ€™Hermitage To Lyon (By Train)

Caught the train to Lyon this morning. After all the heat itโ€™s perhaps not surprising that when the rain decided to fall it put on quite an impressive thunder and lightening show. The downpour was, at times, torrential but as I stand here looking over the Rhรดne in the centre of Lyon, the rain has stopped, the clouds are breaking and perhaps we are in for a better afternoon.

Le Grand Tour: Day 42 – Montรฉlimar To Tain Lโ€™Hermitage (96km)

Ten bridges today. Ten. That means that I went from Drรดme (to the east of the Rhรดne) to the Ardรจche (to the west of the Rhรดne) five times in each direction. In the new reality of Brexit, that probably invalidates my stay in the Schengen zone. There were plenty of other bridges that I didnโ€™t cross. If you have a thing for bridges, come to the Rhรดne Valley!

Le Grand Tour: Day 41 – Chateauneuf-Du-Pape To Montรฉlimar (93km)

Today has seen some of the best cycling of the trip so far. I had, in my mind, relegated the Via Rhรดna to a fill-the-gap route that I would have to endure in order to get me from the Mediterranean to the Alps. If todayโ€™s cycling is anything to go by, itโ€™s no fill-the-gap route. Far from itโ€ฆ There is real geographical drama in the Rhรดne valley and I can only see that increasing. I (almost) feel sorry for the hoards of touring cyclists passing me heading south to that roundabout in Sรจte which has about as much geographical drama as your grannyโ€™s pond. Iโ€™m heading to the Alps and the drama can only intensify the further north and east I travel. After the relative disappointment of the Canal du Midi, I have embraced – and am loving – the Via Rhรดna after just two days. Montรฉlimar? Mmmโ€ฆ Keep reading.

Le Grand Tour: Day 40 – Montagnac To Chateauneuf-du-Pape Via Sรจte (77km + Train + 24km)

Day 39 existed. I didnโ€™t just time-warp myself from day 38 to day 40 but having met up with friends Basil and Liz in Pรฉzenas yesterday lunchtime after having done my pit-stop tasks (washing, post office, podcast editingโ€ฆ) we had a very enjoyable afternoon and early evening of drinking, eating, wandering, drinking, eating and drinking. I took one pictureโ€ฆ

Episode 057: Le Grand Tour, Part 6 – La Vรฉloroute Des Deux Mers From Bordeaux To Sรจte / Canal De La Garonne & Canal Du Midi

The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his โ€˜Grand Tourโ€™ of Europe. He has now arrived in Bordeaux at the start of the โ€˜Two Seasโ€™ cycle route – La Vรฉloroute Des Deux Mers – that will take him along the Canal de la Garonne to Toulouse and then the famous Canal du Midi to Sรจte on the Mediterranean coast. As he cycles he takes time to speak to the people he meets and explore the places he visits. And what will he make of the notorious Canal du Midi towpath that he encounters?

Le Grand Tour: Day 38 – Pouzols Minervois To Montagnac Via Sรจte (134km)

Iโ€™โ€™m glad to have finished the Canal du Midi section of the Canal des Deux Mers cycle route. Now in Pรฉzenas – Iโ€™ll explain in a moment – the highlight of yesterday was cycling along the excellent voies vertes that brought me inland from Sรจte yesterday evening. Cycling at the end of the day is something that doesnโ€™t often happen (the way I tend to organise my days) but the advantages of cycling at that end of the day are similar to those of early morning cycling; quieter roads, cooler temperatures and the โ€˜golden hourโ€™ sunlight that washes a beautiful soft tint over the landscape. Itโ€™s also worth noting (and remembering) that the winds tend to die down in the evening. Mmmโ€ฆ Perhaps I should do night shifts on the bike.

Le Grand Tour: Day 37 – Alzonne To Pouzols-Minervois (71km)

Iโ€™m on one bar of 3G tonight so getting anything uploaded aside from some good old text is very doubtful. No, more than doubtful; it wonโ€™t happen as Iโ€™m not even going to try. Iโ€™ll update this post tomorrow morning with the pictures and the video (which is ready to go!) and for anyone thinking of cycling the Canal du Midi, it really is a video you need to watchโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 36 – Toulouse To Alzonne (92km)

Iโ€™ve seen the Pyrenees for the first time this evening. After so much relatively flat or tame topography over the past five weeks, itโ€™s good to finally have a little drama added to the landscape. They are only in silhouette, shrouded in haze and only just perceptible from the sky but they are definitely there. (Or my glasses need cleaning.) Iโ€™m in a place called Alzonne by the way, about 90km along the canal from Toulouse. Carcassonne is a further 20km to the south east.

Le Grand Tour: Day 35 – Grisolles To Toulouse (31km)

Iโ€™m still suffering g from the mosquito bites inflicted upon me in Marickโ€™s basement on Thursday night. I really wish I had got out of the bed and killed each one of the little f*****s. Not only would I have gained great pleasure from doing so, I would not now be scratching my way through the day. Last night on the campsite near Grisolles was particularly uncomfortable. On the positive side of things, the bites are receding, slowlyโ€ฆ I need to buy some Autan. Iโ€™m already taking antihistamine tablets but the former was recommended way back in 2010 when I was the victim of a mosquito attack in Italy. I wrote a whole section in โ€˜Crossing Europeโ€ฆโ€™ about mosquitoes and their bites; I should go back and re-read it. I seem to remember there being three factors that increased your susceptibility; being pregnant, having blood group O and beer. I need to drink more wineโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 34 – Agen To Grisolles (94km)

I judge my WarmShowers hosts on how I provide for WarmShowers guests when I host back at home. Alas in recent years this has been less frequent. When I lived in that beautiful tourist hotspot that is, errโ€ฆ Reading, I hosted quite regularly in the summer. Since moving back to rural Yorkshire Iโ€™ve hosted just three times. In Reading I was half-way between London and Oxford or en route to the West Country. In Yorkshire, despite it being far nicer, Iโ€™m not really on anyoneโ€™s cycle route (although not very far from the Pennine Cycleway – take note!). Anyway, aside from a warm shower, I provide food, drink, Wi-Fi, clothes washing, advice, deep-tissue massageโ€ฆ Well, most of those.

Le Grand Tour: Day 33 – La Rรฉole To Agen (89km)

There were times this morning when I thought this particular day – the whole trip perhaps – were being derailedโ€ฆ It all started by me heading over the bridge back in the direction of La Rรฉole. Oops! Wrong direction. No big problem; Iโ€™d only cycled perhaps 50 metres across the bridge and by doing so made a nice video clip (yep, you guessed it – watch the videoโ€ฆ).

Le Grand Tour: Day 32 – Bordeaux To La Rรฉole (80km)

Thereโ€™s no mistaking that I have now arrived in the south of France. Not only has it been hot (in fairness, itโ€™s not been in the least but cold since Brittany) but there have been a long list of things that tick the Southern Europe boxes; lavender, a lizard, terracotta roofs, parched fields of crops, hilltop villages, towns that shut down in the heat of the dayโ€ฆ No cicadas yet but they will come in the next week I imagine.

Episode 056: Le Grand Tour, Part 5 – La Vรฉlodyssรฉe From Morlaix To Royan / EuroVelo 1

The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his โ€˜Grand Tourโ€™ of Europe. After a day off in Morlaix, Brittany, Andrew sets off cycling south along the EuroVelo 1 – known locally as the Vรฉlodyssรฉe – following a disused railway track and then the Nantes-Brest Canal before continuing along the west coast of France to La Rochelle. He takes time to explore the attractions along the way including the historic town of Josselin and, with the help of a shuttle bus for bicycles over the bridge, the World War II submarine pens in Saint-Nazaire. The music is by Rob Ainsley.

Le Grand Tour: Day 31 – Bordeaux

A short one todayโ€ฆ and no video. Itโ€™s often tempting on a non-cycling day to plunge into full tourist mode and spend an exhausting day visiting the sites. Today I havenโ€™t done that. Iโ€™ve spent much of the day wandering aimlessly around – flรขner in French – and sorted out a few bits and pieces along the way. Iโ€™ve had the most expensive haircut of my life (I darenโ€™t admit how much but next time I will check the prices before I sit downโ€ฆ) with my developing beard shaved off (which perhaps doubled the cost), bought some replacement sandals, done my washing, sorted out my car tax and the customs issues with the GoPro (ongoing sagaโ€ฆ) and even checked on my plants back home (via a phone call with my mother). But no video. One thing I havenโ€™t yet done is edit the podcast and that is my job for the next couple of hours. It should be available by the end of the day. Still a while for you to catch up on the previous four โ€˜Grand Tourโ€™ episodes (numbers 052 to 055). Tomorrow: the Canal de la Garonneโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 30 – Saint-Fort-Sur-Gironde To Bordeaux (44km + Ferry + 42km)

Today was a good day. A very good day. Well, apart from the first 10km, but that aside, I loved todayโ€™s cycling. It had everything that you might want from a good cycle touring day; beautiful scenery, variety, a favourable wind, vineyards, good signage, a few nice encounters along the way, quality surfaces, an exciting destination, a laundrette and beer at the end of the day and a day off in your favourite French city to look forward to. My day could only improve if Yorkshire Television* decide to revive 3-2-1 with Ted Rogers* and Dusty Bin. On the subject of which, happy Yorkshire Day!ย 

Le Grand Tour: Day 28 – Saint-Gilles-Croix-De-Vie To La Rochelle (140km)

Google estimated the distance today at 121km. I wouldnโ€™t normally trust Google distances when it comes to cycling but when I compared the Google route on Google Maps and the EuroVelo 1 / Vรฉlodyssรฉe route on Open Street Map they looked the same so I gave the Google distance a bit more credence than I normally would. How naรฏve am I? I tell the story in todayโ€™s video in which Iโ€™ve included some commentary.

Le Grand Tour: Day 26 – Frossay To La Bernerie-En-Retz (93km – 18km)

Up early again this morning and almost the first off the site. I was beaten to it by a French solo cyclist, about my age who I exchanged a few words with before he set off home at the end of his week long jaunt along the Loire. The Loire ร  Vรฉlo is, I suspect, what the majority of cyclists on last nightโ€™s site are there to ride. Perhaps a few for the Velodyssรฉe but as itโ€™s so close to the mouth of the river – about 25km – itโ€™s a good place to set up camp at the end of day 1 taking into account you will probably have travelled from elsewhere to get to the start of the route. Itโ€™s also, of course, the start of the EuroVelo 6. I suspect (thereโ€™s a lot of suspecting going on tonight – perhaps someone can confirm) that the EuroVelo 6 is one of the most cycled routes, if not the most cycled, vying for position with the Rhine Cycle Route or EuroVelo 15. I digressโ€ฆ

Le Grand Tour: Day 24 – Gouarec To Rohan (68km)

I was up early this morning (when am I not up early in a tent? Iโ€™ve said this many times before but for me itโ€™s not a case of โ€˜waking upโ€™ when Iโ€™m camping itโ€™s a case of when to stop trying to make an effort to get back to sleepโ€ฆ) and was packed by 8am. My official campsite advisor Tim Sanders (who until only a few minutes ago was my โ€˜unofficialโ€™ campsite advisor but as nobody else has offered their services, Iโ€™ve upgraded him to the honorary post; itโ€™ll give him something to chat to Ed Pratt about the next time they meet at their local Park Run in Somerset. Anyway, back to the pointโ€ฆ) โ€ฆMy official campsite advisor Tim Sanders messaged at 8:05 asking โ€œHave you met Geoff?โ€

Le Grand Tour: Day 23 – Morlaix To Gouarec (98km)

Today was planned to be a short cycle of 50km. In ended up being the second longest cycle yet at 98km. If nothing else, it will work wonders on the daily average which had dipped down to 75km. I need to get it back up to 80km+ to be in with a realistic chance of making it back to Rotterdam before the return ferry sets off on September 3rd.

Le Grand Tour: Day 22 – Morlaix – โ€œIf They Bite You, Bite Them Backโ€

According to the birdโ€™s eye view of Morlaix in the image below, thatโ€™s the motto of the town. Original, no? Itโ€™s been a hot day so far, despite Brittany being the cold corner of the map of France on last nightโ€™s TV forecast. I’ve returned to the hotel for a siestaโ€ฆ Iโ€™ll head back out soon for anothercwander. Thereโ€™s a festival of all things Breton taking place in Place Allende this afternoon so Iโ€™ll perhaps update this later. In the meantime, note that episode 055 of The Cycling Europe Podcast was published this morning – part 4 of my โ€™Grand Tourโ€™ series – so if you have 55 minutes to spaceโ€ฆ All the links can be found by navigating over to the podcast page of the website.

Episode 055: Le Grand Tour, Part 4 – La Vรฉlomaritime From Mont-Saint-Michel To Morlaix / EuroVelo 4

The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his โ€˜Grand Tourโ€™ of Europe. In this fourth part of the โ€™Grand Tourโ€™ series, we follow Andrewโ€™s progress as he rejoins the Velomaritime near Mont-Saint-Michel and cycles west along the route as far as Morlaix in Brittany. This section of his cycle sees him encounter hills for the first time since leaving Rotterdam – he even experiences his first โ€™Mercedes momentโ€™ – but he still has plenty of time and energy remaining to explore the places he visits and chat with the people he meets in one of Franceโ€™s most popular holiday regions. The music is by Rob Ainsley.

Le Grand Tour: Day 21 – Louannec To Morlaix (36km + Train)

Finally writing this upโ€ฆ Not many will read this (as the post was published last night without any text) but it will, at least, be an aide-memoire when I later use these notes to write a book. In a way the โ€˜Mercedes afternoonโ€™ I had experienced on the previous day continued until the following morning. Yes, it was a cheap, municipal campsite but it was packed to the rafters with screaming children. One particular specimen gets his / her starring role in episode 055 of The Cycling Europe Podcast which has now been published.