Category: Cycling

John Vincent: On An eBike Around Europe

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A few weeks ago, John Vincent , a Canadian based in British Columbia got in touch. He explained that he and his wife were enthusiastic eBike tourers in Europe and could he write a piece for the website about his experiences. I was delighted to take him up on his offer and below you can read what he has to say. If you’d like to get in touch with John, he has included contact details at the foot of the article. And if you’d like to contribute your own article for publication on CyclingEurope.org, please get in touch. All the contact details can be found here. Over to you John!

YOUTUBE EXCLUSIVE: Episode 067 Of The Cycling Europe Podcast

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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.

black under amour sneakers

The Beginnerโ€™s Guide To Barefoot Cycling

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You may have heard of barefoot running. But have you ever heard of barefoot cycling? Itโ€™s starting to grow in popularity but itโ€™s difficult to pinpoint where the trend actually came from. So, why are people cycling barefoot? Does it actually provide any health benefits over wearing regular or cyclist shoes? Here weโ€™ll discuss how cycling barefoot can improve your cycling ability and some tips if you’re considering trying it for yourself.

What Camping Mat? Well, I Did Ask…

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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

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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

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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?

a mountain bike on a snow covered ground

How To Keep Cycling Through The Winter

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Cycling is a fantastic hobby that can enrich your life in many ways, but it is also one that can be challenging to enjoy during winter. The cold temperatures, rain, wind and shorter days can make cycling not only challenging but even dangerous, but you do not have to pack your bike away during winter when you know how to manage.ย 

Returning To Le Grand Tour… In Sheffield

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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: