This is a picture of one small part of a colleague’s bicycle that I took this afternoon. Rather beautiful, no? Here’s a bit of Sturmey Archer history: Go on then, let’s have a picture of the Rohloff Speedhub. I wonder if one day I might own one…
“Forty-three countries down, Hera Van Willick rides her bicycle across continents, fully self-supported. This is her journey and what she has learned along the way.” On Saturday evening I went to my local arts centre – indeed the arts centre where I spend much of the working week […]
As spring approaches… (it was snowing just now here in the Pennines), a fresh look for the website and social media. The return of a few familiar images all taken before and during the cycle from Tarifa to Nordkapp… …combined to give a unified look across this website, […]
Where Cycling Europe goes, the BBC follows… Well, kind of. I first met Andrew Edwards of BBC Radio Leeds way back in 2014 when he interviewed me and another long-distance cyclist Tom Bruce at an event organised by Leeds’ cycling impresario Ian Street (he of Leeds Bicycle Film […]
It took me a while to work this out – in fact, I think someone pointed it out rather than me doing any thinking – but you may (or may not) have wondered why the EuroVelo numbers go from route 1 (the Atlantic Coast Route) to route 17 […]
By Freddie Curtis Embarking on a long cycling tour is the ultimate way to spend some time off. Here on Cycling Europe we have done some long journeys across the continent, such as the 96-day tour from Tarifa, Spain to Nordkapp, Norway. A bike tour that takes multiple […]
An extract from a distinctive day during the hot summer cycle from southern Greece to southern Portugal as described in Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie. Saturday 17th August When I emerged from the tent at 7am, after a night of only brief spells of sleep, […]
Welcome to Andermatt… Alas I’m not there at the moment. Although if I were, I dare say it wouldn’t look like it did in August 2010 when the picture above was taken. I suspect it might be somewhat whiter. I was, of course, en route for southern Italy […]
The competition closed at midnight on February 28th and the judges have been locked away in a secret location to deliberate. OK, that’s not quite true. The judges – Laura and Tim Moss, round-the-world cyclists and organisers of The Cycle Touring Festival – probably did it on their […]
The Cycling Europe Cycle Touring Photograph of the Year Competition that was launched recently has been continuing to receive some top-notch entries: All of the photographs above are excellent examples. Just remember that the rules of the competition (see below) stipulate that the photograph must include a bicycle […]
I’m sure it will bite back soon but in this spring-like weather, can there be a better alternative to getting out on the bike? I doubt it… Today’s ride took me along the Calder Valley to Hebden Bridge… …over Oxenhope Moor in the direction of Haworth and then […]
I have received an email from Ian Johnston. It has provoked me to do a bit of digging in the Cycling Europe archive and as a result I am writing this longer-than-normal post. Enjoy. The Tende Pass is perhaps one of the lesser-known Alpine passes but it is […]
The Cycling Europe Cycle Touring Photograph of the Year Competition that was launched recently has been continuing to receive some top-notch entries: All of the photographs above are good examples of what you could be sending in yourself. Just remember that the rules of the competition (see below) […]
This bridleway is at the start of one possible route that I can take to travel from home into the centre of Halifax. I’ve just walked the route on this beautiful morning and I couldn’t help thinking why I haven’t used it more on the Cannondale. The CAADX […]
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to set off one day on your bike… and just keep going. Some people do it. The extreme example would be the German chap who kept cycling around the world for much of his life and when he returned, his home town gave him […]
Yes, only 99p for the Kindle edition of the book, but not for long so be quick!
Here’s a sad tale but also one that brings back fond memories that make me smile. We all remember our school teachers but some stick in our minds more than others. I grew up in a small Yorkshire town and attended the local comprehensive school. Some of my […]
It has been a good week; daffodils are on sale in Morrisons (meaning that spring can only be a few weeks away), Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie has re-entered the best-selling lists on Amazon (mainly because the publishers are selling the Kindle edition – for […]
I like this app. It’s a fairly simple thing but, for those like me who are fans of the EuroVelo network, it’s rather nifty. I stumbled upon it via the Wikipedia EuroVelo page the other day as I wanted to check a distance of one of the routes. […]
Pennine West Yorkshire defies definition as either ‘rural’ or ‘urban’. Or, rather, I struggle to know whether I live in the town or countryside. Away from the nearby moors, it’s hard to find land that isn’t put to use (I refrain from saying ‘good use’) and hopefully this […]
I shall probably reblog this a few times before the end of March…
By John Mullins What makes the Tour de France so special? Why is it that this one cycling competition transcends all other events on two wheels? Even if cycling isn’t your thing, you’ll know what the Tour de France is all about. Since 1903, the world has been […]
Following on from the previous post, it appears to be ‘update Sunday’… Here’s another, reflecting upon the reaction to my post of a few days ago: The Butterfly Effect. Before reading on, you may want to hop back to that post to read what I said at the […]
The Cycling Europe Cycle Touring Photograph of the Year Competition (bit of a mouthful but there you go…) that was launched recently has been receiving some top-notch entries: All of the photographs above are good examples of what you could be sending in yourself. Just remember that the […]
If you want to feature your event on CyclingEurope.org there’s an easy way to do it: send me a cracking poster! It works almost every time and has always worked for Eroica and their ever-expanding list of sportives that have grown out of the original one that took place in […]
I was an Olympic Games Maker back in 2012 (can you believe it’s now nearly 7 years ago?!) and had a wonderful experience. The Olympics won’t be coming back to Britain anytime soon (and post-Brexit, you can’t blame them…), but every year the organisers of the Tour de […]
In its ten-year history, CyclingEurope.org has never really had a competition worthy of the name. However, a few days ago I posted a small collection of photographs of my own bikes in a short article about the freedom of movement in Europe. This got me thinking… We all […]
Yesterday I posed a question regarding the availability of touring bicycles that come with butterfly handlebars as standard. I had a couple of responses. At the budget end of the spectrum there is the Dawes Karakum suggested by Paul (and also Craig via Twitter). Curious name and, actually, […]
I’d be interested in knowing… My Ridgeback Panorama came with drops (as do most bikes of this type) but Reggie’s Achilles’ Heel has always been the fact that, post purchase, I changed to butterfly bars.
Rob Ainsley has been mentioned a few times recently. He’s the Yorkshire-based cyclist and writer for Cycling Plus with whom I’ve exchanged emails in the past few months. Last week we finally had the opportunity to meet up, in Halifax, as he cycled beside the River Calder from […]
There’s an interesting, if somewhat depressing, article in today’s Observer: How millennials have put a spoke in the wheels of Britain’s bicycle shops. The sub-heading reads ‘Youngsters say cycling is ‘too scary’, bike sales are static and stores are closing, as highlighted by James Corden [in a tweet] […]
Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet up with the cyclist and journalist Rob Ainsley over a coffee in Halifax. I mentioned Rob a few weeks ago here on CyclingEurope.org and it was good chatting to him about his ‘Yorkshire Ridings’. More details of his cycling exploits are […]
The BBC are currently airing a fascinating series on BBC Two called ‘Icons‘, eight documentaries dedicated to the great and good of the 20th century. Last night’s episode was dedicated to ‘explorers‘ and the four people that had been chosen to be celebrated (and, potentially, voted for) were […]
Sunday 13th January 2019. No, I haven’t got the date wrong. I know that today is Wednesday 9th January but my mind is focussing upon the 13th. Here’s the forecast: Looks OK for January, no? Now, when the Cycling Europe Podcast returned for its second series of four […]
In these dying days of Britain being within the European Union, a retrospective photographic look at what the freedom of movement – across a peaceful continent of countries with shared values and aspirations – means in reality… That freedom is about to be curtailed for most people within […]
A message from the people at the Brain Tumour Research charity by Farel James. Former cycling champion Phil Corley has launched a national fundraiser to help find a cure for brain tumours. Phil, ex National Road Race Champion, who now runs one of the UK’s leading independent cycle […]
The Cycle Touring Festival has featured frequently on CyclingEurope.org in recent years and I’m delighted to say that it is back in 2019. Here is how the organisers – Laura and Tim Moss – explain it: “We really believe the Cycle Touring Festival is different. Unlike other festivals, we don’t […]
Continuing from the general theme of recent posts, looking forward to cycling (or other) exploits in 2019, trying to put aside the concerns of ageing, this entry in the ever-increasing canon of CyclingEurope.org introduces you to an inspirational film from Lynnea Salvo. If the name is familiar, it […]
An interesting report from NICE – the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – entitled “Physical activity: encouraging activity in the general population“. It’s the kind-of report that will make the average consumer of the Daily Mail / Top Gear foam at the mouth. In my opinion, […]
“Oh to be 50 again – get out as much as you can…“ That’s what ‘brendaintheboro” has commented on the first post of 2019 on CyclingEurope.org. She has a point. Sir David – in the previous post – would, without doubt, agree. But just how much should I […]
Welcome to 2019 and let’s kick off by talking books. I’m sure I’m not alone in having a small section of my bookshelves that looks like this: Sandwiched between some dictionaries and a satirical updated Enid Blyton take on the impending horror that is Brexit, a small collection […]
…see you in 2019!
Bearing in mind Halifax once looked like this… (did you watch?), tonight’s seasonal son et lumière was pretty spectacular. First up was The Minster… …then Square Chapel Arts Centre (where I happen to work)… …and finally the Georgian splendour of The Piece Hall. Happy Christmas!
I occasionally receive emails from people who are aspiring to cycle one of the routes – or parts thereof – that I have cycled myself in the past few years; England to southern Italy, along the coast of the Mediterranean from Greece to Portugal and, most recently, from […]
I live near Halifax so I’m not complaining, but it’s curious that stage 4 of the 2019 Tour de Yorkshire will be almost identical to stage 4 in 2018. The only difference I can spot is that from Halifax the cyclists will head north out of Halifax in […]
Signed copies available for Christmas: more details on this page of CyclingEurope.org.
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 […]
Episode 003 of The Cycling Europe Podcast was film-themed. One of the participants – Harry Bunnell – has alerted me to the upcoming Bicycle Film Festival in London, the details of which are below. Before you read, you might want to catch up on that podcast from November […]
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 […]
Autumn trees, fields and colours in my ‘secret space’. Well, it feels that way as I have never met anyone whilst walking or occasionally cycling along its path… The best thing of all? It’s only two minutes from my front door (if I walk quickly).
The cyclist and writer Rob Ainsley emailed me last week with a few thoughts about cycling places from ‘end-to-end’ (Land’s End to John O’Groats, Tarifa to Nordkapp, Cape Sōya to Cape Sata etc…) and also about cycling in Yorkshire. I’ll write more about those two topics in the […]
Here’s a teaser of a video project that I’m working on at the moment. Can you spot the cyclists? Can you recognise the town?
Following on from the previous two posts (“I Have Made No False Promises On Brexit – I’m Free To Tell You The Truth” and “Stick To Cycling Content”) which focus upon the ludicrous car crash that is Brexit, I’ve been pointed in the direction of the Freedom of […]
Two days ago I posted the text of a speech given by former Prime Minister John Major. He was speaking about the folly that BREXIT. It is sad, and a little ironic, that we live in a world where many current politicians are so terrified of offending the […]
By Sir John Major “Until now, every US president I have known has considered [the UK’s] relevance to America to be enhanced by our membership of the European Union. Yet very soon – on our current course – we will no longer be able to argue from within […]
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 […]
The host towns and cities for the 2019 edition of the Tour de Yorkshire were announced yesterday… …and two things should stand out. Firstly, that ‘Hors Catégorie‘ classification (or, as Sir Gary managed to mangle it into, ‘whore’s category’ which is surely a ranking system used for a […]
The 10.19 from Bradford to Leeds It’s a train, not a bike But for the sake to National Poetry Day Let’s imagine That I’m cycling Speeding down the superhighway (That they have built) Except, I’m told It’s a bit of an obstacle course for cyclists Perhaps the train […]
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 […]
As someone who experiences close passes almost every time I ride my bike, I hope you don’t mind me sharing this letter that’s just arrived from Cycling UK… “Dear Andrew, Support our campaign to help end close passes today! As cyclists, we all know that horrible feeling of a […]
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 […]
Here’s an interesting idea… and there doesn’t appear to be a catch: Boom25.com. Cyclists and travellers – you are probably one or the other or both otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this – can and do spend hours poring over the websites of online retailers looking for that […]
Britain has decided to shoot itself in the foot (ankle, leg, stomach etc…) by leaving the European Union so, unless we manage to wrestle power from the current lunatics who are attempting to run the asylum that is the UK, come late September 2019 we may need cheering […]
If you think of ‘cycling‘ and ‘marginal gains‘, you tend to conjure up images of Team Sky, Dave Brailsford and the success of the British at international sporting events such as the Olympic Games. Indeed Dave Brailsford, head of Team Sky defines the concept of ‘marginal gains‘ 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? […]
An update on my efforts to cycle 300 miles in September for Cancer Research UK. Date Time Miles Climb 9/12/2018 31:42:00 5.22 231 9/12/2018 28:43:00 5.31 168 9/11/2018 45:03:00 7.24 279 9/11/2018 25:38:00 4.97 151 9/9/2018 57:06:00 9.68 315 9/7/2018 28:00:00 5.33 168 9/6/2018 2:42:50 31.71 788 9/5/2018 […]
By Ian Clark
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…
Today, Mobike, the bike sharing service, announced that that they would be pulling out of operating their system in Manchester due to theft and vandalism of their bicycles. You can read more about this sad, but very understandable decision in this article on The Guardian website. A cyclist […]
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 […]
This website is in celebratory mood… Much of what you can find online is ephemeral; here today, gone tomorrow and, often, that’s no bad thing. I note, in passing, that the list of antonyms of ‘ephemeral‘ include words such as ‘permanent‘, ‘perpetual‘ and even (goodness!) ‘eternal‘. Well, CyclingEurope.org […]
“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 […]
By Marc Martorell Cycling is more than getting from one place to another and even more than a sport. Committing to this way of life is a deliberate choice, so no wonder people want to take their bikes everywhere they go. Even in the most industrialised regions of the […]
By Penny Martinelli Cycling holidays are for everyone and everyone should enjoy them in their whole life for at least once. Of course, there are many destinations in the UK for a great cycling holiday, but if you want to get away and experience a different way of […]
“L’Eroica could only have been born in Tuscany. It’s a matter of soul, land, white roads, landscapes, of genuine food and wine, of culture and passions, of history and of Bartali. Now world-renowned for the special people it involves and for the values it upholds, Eroica encapsulates the very essence […]
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 […]
Lost Japan (1993), Alex Kerr Follow this link to the Japan 2020 pages of CyclingEurope.org This is the first book I’ve read about Japan (aside from delving into sections of the Rough Guide) and I’ll be honest; I only understood probably about a third of the detail. The […]
Fitness, time, money and equipment. Those were the four key things that I listed as potential hurdles if I am ever to cycle the length of Japan in the summer of 2020. Of the four hurdles, three are relatively passive, but one is, by necessity, active: fitness. With […]
I’ve ridden a Brompton bicycle only twice in my life. The first time when I visited the Brompton factory in London in 2014 – more details here – and the second time last year on a visit to Brussels on the bicycle above – more details here. I’ve […]
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 […]
By Penny Martinelli As a relatively new destination on the tourist map, Cuba offers plenty of intrigue and adventure. However, have you considered a cycling holiday there? To really lose yourself in the culture and get to grips with the heritage of this unique country, hop on your […]
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 […]
By Sally Fox What could be more exciting than loading up the bike rack and catching the ferry to France for two weeks of pedalling pleasure? These beautiful destinations are perfect for your next two-wheeled adventure. If you’re after coastal charm, Normandy is a winner. At only 3 hours […]
Maxine Dodd’s pictures are beautiful. It’s well worth exploring her website to see some of her pictures from this year’s Tour de France. If you happen to be in Northampton, you can see them at the jgallery as well.
I spent much of the past weekend filmmaking. I’ve dabbled in the past with short videos, usually taken with the iPhone and/or GoPro (and have produced some good results) but if I am to cycle the length of Japan in 2020, I’d like to make a proper film. […]
There’s been much about the Far East in recent weeks, but let’s come back to Yorkshire and more specifically the Ryburn Valley. Some of you may remember me mentioning the Ryburn Valley Greenway project on CyclingEurope.org in the past – follow this link to read the previous posts. […]
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 […]
