Category: Cycling

The Cycle Touring Festival 2023: Next weekend!

By on • ( 2 Comments )

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).

20 Is Indeed Plenty… Although Some (Men) Might Take Persuading

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Today sees the introduction of a principality-wide 20 mph speed limit in urban areas in Wales. What a grest idea! I live in an area – Calderdale in West Yorkshire – where 20 mph zones have been introduced gradually over the past few years and whenever I drive through one, I respect it, sticking to 20 mph. It’s not difficult. I don’t spend any more time looking at my speedometer compared to when I’m driving along a 30, 40 etc… mph road. I’ve never been late for an appointment or work by sticking to 20 mph. I don’t rev my engine excessively. When I’m cycling, I stick to the limit, even when heading down the nearby hill. My life is only affected in positive ways by my local 20 mph zones. I’m a more relaxed driver and, when I walk or cycle along the roads, I feel that the traffic has been calmed, to some extent at least.

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

By on • ( Leave a comment )

In 2017, novice long-distance cyclist Craig Fee set off on a continental odyssey to cycle from London to his friendโ€™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 Europeโ€ฆ

Episode 075: Craig Fee – Cycling Into The Unknown

By on • ( 4 Comments )

In 2017, novice long-distance cyclist Craig Fee set off on a continental odyssey to cycle from London to his friendโ€™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 Europeโ€ฆ

Celebrity Race Across The World: Sound Familiar?

By on • ( Leave a comment )

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 Tromsรธ in Norway (why not go all the way to Nordkapp?) It will be interesting to watch.

L’Arte Dell’Eroica

By on • ( Leave a comment )

A while back – some years ago – I was in the habit of posting about the Italian L’Eroica sportive event on a semi-regular basis as the artwork was just so beautiful. Perhaps it’s time for a catch-up as I have just received an email about this year’s main event which takes place later in September.

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

By on • ( 1 Comment )

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’.