Category: Cycling

Episode 073: Leigh Timmis – The Race Of Truth

Disillusioned by life in the post-graduation rat race of the film industry, Leigh Timmis set off on his bike and spent seven years cycling around the world. When he finally returned home to the UK, he didn’t reach for his pipe and slippers. Far from it… “In 2018, Leigh Timmis became the fastest person to cycle across Europe โ€“ in just 16 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes โ€“ breaking the previous world record by an astonishing 8 days and 17 hours. But when he set out to break the record, Leigh wasnโ€™t just trying to conquer the road… Although test results showed that he already had the physical ability of an elite athlete, something was holding him back: his troubled mind… Cycling for 14 hours a day, from the west coast of Portugal to the edge of Siberia, he embarked on far more than just a physical journey. The Race of Truthย is the remarkable true story of personal transformation against the clock, and the astonishing feats we can accomplish when we face up to our deepest fears.”

a man riding his electric bike

The Benefits Of Ditching The Car And Pedaling To Work

With urban congestion on the rise and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, many people are looking for alternatives to the traditional commute by car. One option that is gaining popularity is the electric bike or e-bike. This modern twist on a classic mode of transport offers many benefits. If youโ€™ve been considering changing up your commute, hereโ€™s why you should think about hopping on an e-bike.

“How Did You Remember That?”

It’s a question I am occasionally asked. My quest to re-cycle the route of last year’s Grand Tour around Europe in written form continues… Today I will hopefully ‘arrive’ in La Rochelle. It was one of the longest days of cycling from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie to La Rochelle on the west coast of France. 140km in total. At least the landscape was flat and it was a beautifully sunny day. This is the fourth book that I will have written about my travels on a bike. When I think back to writing that first book, it was very much a detective job as I didn’t record much information about the cycle from southern England to southern Italy in 2010; a few short web posts, a few photos, no video to speak of and not even a GPS track. Why would I bother? It wasn’t as if I was ever going to need all that detail again…

EXCLUSIVE: Le Grand Tour – Day 26

In the writing of the book about last year’s Grand Tour of Europe, I’ve arrived in the west of France, at a small family-run campsite near the coastal town of La Bernerie-en-Retz. I occasionally post what I’ve written to the website and below you can read my account of day 26 of the journey that took place in late July 2022. I have to say that this fourth book is taking me far longer to write than the previous books, but that’s for good reasons rather than bad. I have no pressure with this one. I ticked the box of having a book published through official channels with ‘Spain to Norway…’ and have as yet made no effort whatsoever to find a publisher for this fourth instalment of my travels. As a result, I have no deadline to finish the first draft. It will happen later in the year, perhaps even in early 2024 but I do feel that the quality of what I am writing is benefiting from the lack of external pressure. You may ultimately agree or disagree… but you might have to wait until the spring of 2024 to find out. If you are a publisher, feel free to get in touch.

New Cycling Film: The Engine Inside

This looks good. A film about cyclists that crosses the globe to tell a simple truth that the humble bicycle is the answer to many problems faced by humanity. Thanks to cycling acquaintance Simon Johnson for pointing me in its direction. Alas none of the showings are near me in the north of England. Letโ€™s hope it goes online soon.

a coupe riding their bicycles

How To Choose The Perfect eBike For Your Lifestyle

Are you considering purchasing an ebike but have not decided what kind would be best? There are many things to consider when buying an ebike, such as portability, budget, the type of ebike, and your purpose for getting one. Ebikes are also quite costly. Doing as much research as possible before committing to an ebike would be a good idea.ย 

Happy World Bicycle Day!

World Bicycle Day is a global initiative that takes place on 3rd June each year. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in April 2018 to promote the multiple benefits of using bicycles as a means of transportation, fostering sustainable development, health, and well-being. I’m off for a ride with a friend. Hopefully you are too…