By Tom Butcher I cycled the Great Glen Way earlier this summer and, apart from the infamous midges that Scotland’s famous for, it was a great ride. It took me two days in all. Due to the terrain and the nature of the route, this is a mountain […]
I remember cycling from the southern tip of Spain to the northern tip of Norway back in 2015 – my third crossing of Europe by bike – and coming to the conclusion that however wonderful the experience was (and it was usually just that), I had inadvertently sacrificed […]
Yorkshire 2018 never happened. It was my great plan to cycle all of the National Cycle Network routes in Yorkshire during the calendar year 2018. If you are seen as an optimist even by those at the positive end of the thinking spectrum, you might point out that […]
I was recently contacted by a cyclist called Dean Fletcher. Dean lives in northern Portugal, close to the border with the Spanish region of Galicia. He explained that he had just set up a website extolling the virtues of cycling in the north-western corner of the Iberian Peninsula […]
His name is Colin Baird and he wants to see all of Scotland by bicycle. So says the short biography of ‘Cycling Scot’ on his website, CyclingScot.co.uk. He likes cycling, he likes Scotland… and he also likes cycling books. He even has a short hall of cycling book […]
Way back at the start of August, I set myself two challenges. The first was to climb the national ‘Three Peaks’ of Britain in three weeks. I did just that, ascending to the summits of Scafell Pike, Mount Snowdon and finally Ben Nevis over three consecutive weeks in […]
Cast your mind back 12 months; more specifically to 15 minutes and 13 seconds into film-themed episode 003 of The Cycling Europe Podcast: You heard an interview with Jimmy Hyland who, in 2016, set off on an adventure across Mongolia. He made an award-winning film about his travels – Mohon […]
By Jamie Osman You need not be familiar with the latest cycling statistics to understand the growing apprehension among cyclists globally regarding bike safety on the road. In South Africa, Stellenbosch-based cycle tour company Cape Vélo believes this is just one reason cyclists are turning to gravel riding; they are […]
Every six months or so an email arrives from The Netherlands announcing the publication of a new edition of Bicycle Traveler. We’ve had to wait a little longer for the 13th issue but it’s now available, and best of all, it’s free! There are some familiar names in […]
By Ron Ferguson When they go on holiday, most people feel the need to relax and have fun. Others want to spend their getaway in the most glamorous areas. There are also those who want to spend time in the middle of nature. What about combining all this? […]
So, here is the complete film of my August quest to climb the highest peaks of England, Wales and Scotland. 26 minutes of hiking adventure…
The challenge is accomplished! Three peaks in three weeks? I didn’t need all 21 days in the end, just 18. OK, plenty of people do the national three peaks in 24 hours. On a physical level, I take my hat off to them. But then again, speed isn’t […]
There’s enough in and around Fort William – the local town to Ben Nevis – to keep the average man occupied for a day. I’m an average man and it has kept me occupied until 4pm. The campsite is at the foot of Ben Nevis itself… …and I […]
It’s always good to from people that I have met on my travels. This week, two fellow continental drifters from the cycle from Spain to Norway back in 2015 have been in touch. First up is Peter Udell. I met him in northern Spain in the early part […]
“In this video we explore what makes us want to cycle – and encourage you to start your own bicycle tour. It’s possible! Back in June and July of 2018, my girlfriend Belén and I cycled the famed ‘Pamir Highway’, through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. During our trip we […]
The art of camping is in keeping as many things as possible of off the ground, which, if you are in a tent (for that is proper ‘camping’ – don’t get me going on that one…) is usually grass or mud. I’m not sure I’ve ever made that […]
All good walks end up in the pub. Today’s ascent of England’s tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, was a good walk. And I’m writing this in the pub with that first pint glow adding a silver lining to a cloud that didn’t require one in the first place. It […]
Some things make you want to scream. I’ll get to one of those in a few moments. In the meantime, there’s a small family of ‘Cycling Europe’ websites out there: CyclingEurope.com – the big one, not used but up for sale if you’d like it for many thousands […]
One morning last August I made an impromptu decision to head off to the Dales and hike up the three major peaks of Yorkshire: Pen-y-Ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside. I did so over the two days of August 20th and 21st. I’m hoping to do something similar this August […]
By Oliver Devon Nothing beats the fresh air, breathtaking view, and the thrill of riding your bike on a new barely touched trail. The adrenaline of rushing down that unknown path makes the hair on the back of your neck stand. The anticipation is high, especially if you […]
In the back of my mind, I’ve been thinking about my list of requirements for a bespoke bicycle that I would dearly love to have built before I travel to cycle the length of Japan in 2020. I have yet to write down a definite list – perhaps […]
It seems timely… Here’s the route being taken by today’s cyclists in the Tour de France compared to my own cycle into Paris in 2015 en route to Nordkapp: Somewhat different although the two routes do coalesce somewhere near the Champs Elysées. Here’s how I described the journey […]
…and an exclusive film. Keep reading (and watching). Exactly three years ago today, after 96 days of cycling and 15 days of not cycling (much), I pulled on the brakes of my good steed Reggie for the final time at the monument that marks the northernmost point of […]
DEADLINE FOR BIDS – MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY 31ST JULY IF YOU’D LIKE THE COPY OF THE CICERONE GUIDE MENTIONED BELOW, IT WILL GO TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER! YOUR BID MUST ARRIVE BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY 31ST JULY . I’LL DONATE THE MONEY TO THE TEENAGE CANCER TRUST AND […]
First came the website, then the books and the podcast. It’s time, I feel, to move into film…
Today I bought a map of Japan and this evening I have stuck it to the wall of the spare bedroom. I did this prior to the three cycles across Europe and, each time, I achieved my objective. Let’s hope the strategy works for a 4th time… I […]
Trump, Brexit, May (although see below)… I’ve had my fill. In other news: I joined BBC Radio Leeds presenter Andrew Edwards last Thursday morning for a walk along part of the route of the disused Sowerby Bridge to Rishworth railway line and one day, hopefully, the walking- and […]
UPDATE: Wednesday 11th July 2018 Today I drove over to Leeds to pay a visit to Woodrup Cycles and spent about an hour chatting to one of the guys who works in the shop. It was an interesting conversation and took place whilst standing over this bike (I […]
A slew of Tour de France-related emails have arrived this week promoting this product, that cause etc… The race itself, of course, sets off today from the Vendée in western France. Of all the emails that I have received, two stick out from the rest. The first comes […]
I would love a new bicycle. Who wouldn’t? Reggie, the Ridgeback Panorama, has served me well for nearly 10 years, although admittedly he hasn’t seen much action since I bought Dale, the Cannondale CAADX 105, a cross bike that I now ride whenever I need to get on […]
Cycling the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway (eastern loop) from Malham to Settle and back, travelling in Japan and an interview with Mike Webb of PulpedTravel.com and cycling to the summit of one of the Tour de France’s most iconic climbs: Mont Ventoux.
Cycling the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway (eastern loop) from Malham to Settle and back, travelling in Japan and an interview with Mike Webb of PulpedTravel.com and cycling to the summit of one of the Tour de France’s most iconic climbs: Mont Ventoux
You may remember that back in May at the Cycle Touring Festival, I met a chap called Robert, an academic at Reading University. I posted a few pictures of his Ridgeback Panorama touring bike that he had converted to carry ‘bike-packing’ bags rather than panniers. You can read […]
A friend commented to me a few days ago that I seemed to be on a three-year cycle. Not a three-year ‘ride’, but a three-year ‘cycle’.
In a stupendous example of failing to plan, after my talk on Friday evening and short cycle around Edinburg on Saturday morning, I was scratching my head as to what to do. Should I stay in Scotland, find somewhere to stay, do a little exploring on or off […]
It was an all-too-brief visit to Edinburgh to speak at the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling at the weekend, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. The event is now in its sixth year and spans across 18 days in June – there are still plenty of things going on until […]
Scotland is once again on my mind as, this coming weekend, I will be speaking at the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling (Friday, 6.30pm in the Pleasance Cabaret Bar – details and tickets here). The last time I visited the country was in 2014, shortly after the Commonwealth Games […]
It’s June 3rd, it’s World Bicycle Day and… it’s back! The Cycling Europe Podcast Episode 006 for June 2018 has just been published and awaits your ears to to turn in its direction and enjoy a bumper 73 minutes of cycling chat. This month you can… Relive last […]
The Cycle Touring Festival 2018 featuring Stephen Fabes, Libby Bowles, Sophie Esterer and Laura & Tim Moss, taking your bicycle on a train in northern England and William Manners, author of ‘Revolution: How The Bicycle Reinvented Modern Britain’.
By Lee Dover Strength manifests itself in a number of ways, whether it be in strongman competitions or on the road. It’s not just squats and deadlifts which impress when showcasing this trait either, as speed, strength and stamina of insane magnitude can all make us pause and take […]
Well, it’s a world tour if you ignore the other 194 countries… More details below or by visiting the speaking page of CyclingEurope.org. 8th June 2018: Edinburgh Cycling Festival, Scotland 23rd June 2018: The York Rally, The Knavesmire, York 13th July 2018: Vélo Retro Festival, Ulverston, Cumbria 21st […]
OK, perhaps not self-destruct but the videos will disappear on May 26th and they make for a good watch. There’s a good line in the French film Taxi 2 where one of the characters tells his girlfriend (who is keen on him arriving home to, well, ‘comfort’ here) […]
Here’s an interesting and important statement from Sustrans regarding the future of the National Cycle Network here in the UK. It’s worth a read: “The National Cycle Network (NCN) will undergo a major review of its walking and cycling routes to ensure they meet the highest design standards […]
Warning! There are some pretty pictures and videos in this post… …but I also need your opinions. Scroll to the foot of the post for more information… I don’t write murder mysteries. This is why I have no problem in revealing to anyone who hasn’t read Spain to Norway […]
Three years ago today, I trundled into Paris… …arriving in, well, triumph at the Arc de Triomphe late in the afternoon. Here’s how the story unfolded in ‘Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie‘: Having attempted to cycle several times along the Thames Valley into central London […]
So far we’ve got to number 10 in the list of my Top Fifteen Tips for Long-Distance Cycling… Do a trial run Never buy a one-person tent Don’t let the weather put you off If you see a mountain, cycle towards it Try to be lucky! Write about your […]
They don’t call it Hardknott Pass for anything! With an energy-sapping gradient of one in three in places, only Rosedale Chimney in Yorkshire is anything like it. But having failed spectacularly once before, this time, I was determined to make it up in one go, without getting off […]
Here’s part two of the run down of Cycling Europe’s 15 Top Tips for Long-Distance Cycling as revealed at this year’s Cycle Touring Festival. You can read part one – tips 1 to 5 in detail – in this post on CyclingEurope.org but here’s a summary of what […]
For the past three years I’ve been honoured to give a talk at the Cycling Touring Festival in Clitheroe, Lancashire. It’s a wonderful, friendly event and this year was drenched in continuous sunshine from beginning to end. That aside, in each of those three years the festival has […]
Ready to be transported to a street in Egypt? Read on… The new podcast has actually been available to listen to for a few days here at CyclingEurope.org (via that button over there on the right or perhaps way down at the bottom if you’re on your phone) […]
What a good day… It’s been the fourth edition of Laura and Tim Moss’ Cycle Touring Festival in Clitheroe; I’ve been to three of them and it has been the best I’ve experienced so far. Great people, interesting stories and with my podcast hat on today was spent […]
One of my talks here at the Cycle Touring Festival was subtitled ’15 Top Tips for Long-Distance Cycle Touring’. I’ll post the list to CyclingEurope.org in the coming days. However, at number three in the list was ‘avoid flying with a bicycle’. Neil Wheadon, vet and cycle tour […]
One of the nicest things about the Cycle Touring Festival here in Clitheroe is the conversations that take place between the more formal sit-down-and-listen sessions. Earlier this evening I was approached by a chap called Robert, an academic at Reading University. We got chatting and it turns out […]
It’s that time of the year once again… I’m with my homies here in Clitheroe. Beautiful weather, interesting talk, nice food and decent beer. A quadruple whammy of goodness at the Cycle Touring Festival. I delivered two talks (‘Ten Years of Cycling Europe’ and ‘Podcasting on Tour’) and […]
Around the World with Tim Moss – ‘With The Sun on Our Right’, cycling the National Cycle Network routes 66 and 69 in Yorkshire, and sound effects…
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Cycling Europe website. It wasn’t called ‘Cycling Europe’ back in August 2008; it went by the rather more specific name of ‘Puglia 2010’ which made reference to the destination of my first trans-continental ride that was planned for the summer […]
I had one big job to do today and lots of little ones. The little ones have all been done, but the big one remains untouched… Such is life. More of the ‘big job’ in a few moments. One of the ‘little’ jobs was to erect the new […]
Guest post by Sasha Francis There really is a cycle route for everyone in the Lake District! Routes like The Lakes & Dales Loop cover some of the most beautiful parts of the landscape and as threatening as a 196-mile circular loop sounds, it’s easily broken down into […]
Three years ago today… I was nearing the end of the Spanish portion of my cycle from Tarifa to Nordkapp. Original post to CyclingEurope.org below the video (just look at that road surface!) & image.
UPDATE: Tuesday 24th April 2018 I’ve gone for the Vango Force 10 Xenon UL 2+ (significantly reduced in price from Go Outdoors down to £222 with a bit of price matching and their offer to undercut any online price by 10%). Pity it’s green but there you go… Sunday […]
From the perspective of this seasoned continental cyclist, the best thing about a ferry is the fact that it isn’t an aeroplane. No hassle packing up the bike; just a case of riding over a ramp, finding a seat and relaxing while someone else does the hard work of […]
Regular readers of these posts will know that I quite often receive emails from people asking for information about cycling in Europe as occasionally I post my exchanges with such people on the website. In the case of Simon Ruddenklau, however, I didn’t. Perhaps it was a busy […]
Today you have a triple bill of media choice… CyclingEurope.org’s answer to the red button, albeit without a red button (or indeed any kind of button). If you’d like to be fully informed about my cycle from Huddersfield along route 69 (the ‘Birkby Bradley Greenway’ or ‘the place […]
In my experience, people are generally nice. Even if you travel to a country where, because of your pre-conceptions, you imagine that the people might not be so friendly, you are invariably proved wrong. In 2013 as I cycled ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘, my […]
…or Crossing Europe On A Bike Called… Maggie? Perhaps not. Not on Maggie anyway. Sean Conway appears to have dumped poor Maggie for a newer model: Back in July 2017 Sean attempted to break the record for the fastest crossing of Europe by bicycle and it featured in this […]
Laura and Tim Moss spent 16 months cycling through 24 different countries around the world… …you can now read their book: With the Sun on Our Right – Cycling the world, meeting its people. More details on The Next Challenge website. Laura and Tim are the people behind The […]
Reflections on winter cycling, JOGLE with a twist, cycling motivation, Mercedes days, travelling in Spain and Germany, The HandleBards, the National Cycle Network in Yorkshire.
Yes, quite a long wait between episodes 3 and 4 but the April 2018 podcast is now available to download from iTunes or your preferred podcast provider. You can even listen to it directly from CyclingEurope.org – all the links can be found on the podcast page of CyclingEurope.org. […]
…well, Todmorden, at the far western extremity of Yorkshire and home via Mankinholes and the rather muddy canal side Route 66.
Ultimately, yes. I’ve postponed my plans for this weekend due to the weather forecast but the planning was not in vain. I am now much better prepared to shoot off for a few days of bike-packing than I was just a few days ago. Below is a record […]
This website is very nearly ten years old. Back in the early days(!) I used to answer many emails that I received on the website. In more recent years I haven’t done it so often but I’m going to do it now as this week I received two […]
It’s difficult to disagree with that, especially when it’s written about cycling and about one’s very own book. Here’s AJFrobisher’s full review of Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie as it appeared on Amazon.co.uk: “I cycle. I cycle a lot. 3,000 miles a year give or […]
Now in its 4th year, the Cycle Touring Festival returns to Clitheroe in Lancashire over the May Bank Holiday weekend. It’s a wonderful few days of chat, food, films and beer… What’s not to like? Whether you’ve cycled around the world or just down to the shops, you’ll find […]
Scroll down for a free audio extract from ‘Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie’ Take 7 celebrities, 790 km, the fabulous scenery of northern Spain and a camera crew and behold! You’ve got a filmed travelogue to warm the winter nights (OK, it’s now spring but I […]
“C’est mieux que le bureau!” Indeed… one for the francophones. If you happen to be in Brussels this weekend, here’s something that you could do: Le Festival En Roue Libre 2018. The programme is here. If, like me, you’re going to be nowhere near Brussels (although you can […]
It’s nice to inspire others… Good luck Bob and bon voyage!
Well, that is the question… I was telephoned earlier this week by a chap called Jack: ‘Hi, I’m Jack from The Handlebars…‘ he said. I initially struggled to piece together what he was talking about; bicycles, plays, Romeo & Juliet… It then suddenly clicked; I’d misheard the name […]
When it comes to cycling, the Dutch know what they are talking about. The Netherlands has featured often on these pages although as a cyclist, I’ve only ever spent a day and a bit travelling in the country. Back in 2015, it was cycling day 42 of my […]
I find that by searching for ‘snow’ in the back catalogue of CyclingEurope.org posts, I’m not short of pretty photographs. From Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, Slovakia, France, Switzerland, Norway… There was even a film!
Cold? This might warm you up… …as might reading this; my 2nd (and favourite) book, Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie, where I cycled the length of the EuroVelo 8 from Greece to Portugal:
Avid readers of CyclingEurope.org (I’m sure there must be one or two such people out there, no?) may remember this post from last March about my visit to the 2017 Sheffield Adventure Film Festival or SHAFF. Well, this week I have received an email about the 2018 festival […]
It was, at times, challenging on two wheels for me back in 2015; here’s someone cycling parts of Norway on one…
The Adventure Junkies top 25 list is just out and CyclingEurope.org is up ten places at number 9: # BLOG SCORE 1 Bike Packing 268 2 Travelling Two 261 3 The Path Less Travelled 254 4 Tom’s Bike Trip 254 5 Rodadas 254 6 Bike Touring Pro 252 […]
This is all very reminiscent of planning past continental adventures, the only difference being that this one will be in my back yard of Yorkshire (read here to catch up on the plan). My maps have just arrived from Sustrans and they nearly cover all of Yorkshire. In […]
Second post of 2018. Second quote from a book – a different book – that I’m reading: “Cycling is a popular pastime in Yorkshire, especially in the industrial areas – there are no fewer than sixty clubs in West Yorkshire alone. Indeed, the county’s dedication to cycling led […]
As 2017 draws to a close I take a few moments to look back over the 150 posts from the past 12 months on CyclingEurope.org. It started in reflective mood, looking forward to the publication of Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie in May. Here I […]
On foot, not bike…
Last week I was contacted by Nicholas Waite, a cyclist who is planning to travel from Tarifa to Nordkapp by bicycle in 2018. As with anyone attempting such a feat, he has done the wise thing and read my book: Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie […]
Yes, it’s true… …however you write it, Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie and Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie are now available for Amazon Kindle for a mere 99 pence or 99 cents. (If you buy the paperbacks from Amazon you can download the […]
It’s the first of the month (white rabbits etc…), which means just one thing; the next episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast is available to download from your preferred podcast purveyor or direct from this website! It’s episode 003 already (I’ll stop when I get to 999) and […]
The cycling film special! The Leeds Bicycle Film Club (Ian Street), Mongolia (Jimmy Hyland), bikepacking & filmmaking (Barry Godin) & the definitive list of the greatest cycling films ever, perhaps (BFI/Harry Bunnell).
Harry Bunnell appeared on these pages a couple of weeks ago and he will be soon heard on The Cycling Europe Podcast (available to download from 1.11.17) talking about the greatest cycling films ever made. Here he is cycling around the coastline of Sicily:
A second day of hiking in the Lake District…
Time to dust off the backpack and head for the hills… (in the Lake District).
CyclingEurope.org often veers off topic, but here’s a story that is bang on topic. It starts with an email from Harry: Hi Andrew, I’m planning to cycle EuroVelo 3 in September this year, and was wondering if I could ask you a few questions? My father read about […]
Yes, it’s true, kind of… The story of a cyclist from London who became the first person to ‘Everest’ Mount Etna in Sicily. On 16th September 2017, Harry Bunnell took on the volcano multiple times until he reached the same elevation as the world’s highest peak, 8848 metres. […]
Since the publication of Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie in May 2017, the speaking tour has taken in the Cycle Touring Festival in Clitheroe, Oxford, Bristol, The Immrama Festival of Travel Writing in Lismore, Ireland, London, York, Cambridge and an audience of hundreds in the […]
