I now find myself with several ‘jobs’. Although no longer a full-time teacher, I continue to spend two or three days every week in schools. I visited one particular secondary today – Salendine Nook High near Huddersfield here in West Yorkshire – and found this. Worth sharing I […]
You’re cycling down the road and you see something ahead of you on the tarmac. It’s not moving and appears somewhat flattened. Rubbish? Horse shit? A hub cap? You get a little closer and discover it’s none of these… it’s a hedgehog. Or rather it was. As the […]
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 […]
From Sustrans: World record breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont is calling on families to take up the challenge of โAround the world in 10 daysโ as part of Sustrans Big Pedal 2018 – a UK-wide event to get more young people cycling and scooting to school. The Big Pedal […]
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 […]
Don’t believe any author, actor, painter, candlestick-maker… who says they don’t read their reviews. Of course they do. They then just deny it so as to sound self-deprecating. However, perhaps because of the long road along which I have pedalled both literally as well as metaphorically to becoming […]
I have spent much of my time in the last few months marketing the new book, Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie (there I go again…), and, perhaps as a result, there has been renewed interest in books one and two. A new review appeared yesterday […]
Signed copies of the new book โ โSpain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggieโย โ as well as the first two books โ โCrossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggieโ and โAlong The Med on a Bike Called Reggieโ โ are available for ยฃ15 per book, two books […]
It was Ireland last weekend and England this weekend: London and York. Thanks to David Hibbs and all at Blue Door Bicycles in Crystal Palace and all at The York Rally. A long but interesting and enjoyable 2 days! More dates to come in August and September (and […]
On past experience this won’t last long but… at the moment (Saturday 10th June, 9am) Amazon.co.uk are selling Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie for just ยฃ6.99. Perhaps they want to celebrate my birthday! Be quick!
Now back home after my travels to Clitheroe, London, Reading, Oxford, Bath and Bristol over half-term (it was lovely seeing so many of you in Clitheroe, Oxford and Bristol by the way – thanks for coming to hear me speak – more events coming up in June, July […]
One for the linguists… I’m delighted to say that the European Cyclists’ Federation – the people in charge of the EuroVelos – have published an interview with me on their website; in English, in French and in German! “He did it again! Over the past few years, Andrew […]
It’s been an interesting week as I transitioned from a self-published to a published author on Thursday. Is all the hard work over or has it yet to start? Time will tell. I haven’t quite transitioned away from being a secondary school teacher of French however and continue […]
With only a few days until the publication of all 35 degrees of ‘Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie‘ on May 11th (pre-order at Amazon or Waterstone’s), exactly two years ago today, I was cycling from Rochefort to La Rochelle, enjoying the great cycling facilities of […]
No mention, alas, of a certain soon-to-be-published book (perhaps next year?), but these tomes could help you fill your time between now and the launch of Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie next week. Indeed if you are anywhere near Waterstone’s in Leeds at 6:30pm on […]
Exactly two years ago, I cycled into a very wet Salamanca in Spain. Below is an extract from ‘Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie‘ recounting my day in the city. Aside from providing me with some beautiful buildings, frogs and reminiscences of teenage reading, it was […]
Today, I read, is International Day of Happiness. (Isn’t every day? Mmm… Perhaps not…) Anyway, upon discovering that March 20th is a day of all-round joy (apologies if you’re just not feeling it), I was reminded of cycling through Lower Saxony en route from Tarifa to Nordkapp for […]
More details here…
Summersdale, the publishers of ‘Spain to Norway on a ย Bike Called Reggie‘, have been in touch and, much to my delight, they would like to include some pictures in the new book. The absence of imagesย from the first two booksย has been a complaint of many who have read […]
Well, it was the week before the week before Christmas but that makes less of a catchy title. I’ve just returned home after a week on the road; a mixture of business and pleasure. This was the main event of the week: That’s the Britannia Royal Navy College […]
The first reviewย of the translation of ‘Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie‘ – ‘Attraverso l’Europe su una Bici di Nomme Reggie‘ – is in! “Ironico e sensibile, ma anche preciso e coraggioso senza apparire presuntuoso. Utilissima, per il lettore italiano, la visione del nostro Paese tramite gli […]
Did any of you seeย that myย new book was published earlier this week? What? No? After all that hard toil along Europe’sย cycle paths and effort invested at my computer in puttingย the story of a trans-continental cycle ride down on paper and you didn’t even notice? My marketing skills must […]
There has been a drip, drip… of information about the new book in recent weeks but I’m finally in a position to confirm the details in full. As you are probably aware, the book will be published by Summersdale next year. The date for publication has been set […]
I’ve triple checked and my diary is empty… Apart from the publication of STNOABCR (that’s ‘Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie‘…) by Summersdale! Available in all good bookshops (as well as a few rubbish ones). One day it might even be added to this list. Perhaps. […]
A date for your diary if you happen to be near Reading on December 12th… “MEET ANDREW: FRENCH TEACHER, WRITER AND LONG-DISTANCE CYCLIST. NOW, MEET REGGIE, HIS BIKE. With two European cycling adventures already under his belt, Andrew was ready for a new challenge. Exchanging his job as […]
An updated version of what you may have seen before. Can you spot the differences? But here’s something that you probably won’t have seen before; the map for the new book. Available in spring 2017 from all good bookshops…
An interesting angle on the new book; the most frequent 100 words (pre-publisher edit…).
Thereโs no getting away from the fact that it is now autumn. If you are a weather forecaster, it started weeks ago on September 1st. If you stick to the โold rulesโ, the autumn equinox was this week and in the next month or so the leaves will […]
The 218th review for Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie was posted on Amazon.co.uk yesterday. That’s exactly twice as many for Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie which now has 109 reviews. When it comes to the ratings, however,ย Along The Med is still in front […]
It’s been a quiet few days here on CyclingEurope.org as I have been busy editing down the draft manuscript of ‘Spain to Norway on a Bike Called Reggie’ ready for submission to the publishers on October 3rd. I’m already on my second read through and I suspect there […]
I’m in the final throes of writing the new book and have arrived at the island ofย Andรธya. This picture sums up cycling along the coast ofย northern Norway perfectly… I felt obliged to share it once again. (It originally appeared here.)
It was August 28th 2013 when I completed my cycle from southern Greece to southern Portugal. The full story here or the even fuller story here… And here are a few photographic memories. Full marks to anyone who can identify where they were taken; Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, […]
Reviews of the books are always welcome and here’s one that has taken the reviewer a considerable amount of time to write. I appreciate particularly the fair comments about the first two books being self-published and the downsides that come with that. It’s a timely opportunity to remind […]
Coming soon, the Italian translation of โCrossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggieโ. Hereโs the prologue, translated by Enrico Antonio Mion: Prologo Vendono una maglietta con scritto che esistono tre ragioni per diventare insegnante: Natale, Pasqua e lโestate. Sebbene non concordi con questo sentimento cinico, vi รจ un […]
This Thursday, 14th July 2016, the Tour de France once again points its riders in the direction of the summit of Mont Ventoux in the south of France. As I was cycling from Cape Sounio in southern Greece to Cape St. Vincent in southern Portugal in the hot […]
I’ve recently republished some of the posts I wrote during some of the cycles of the past few years. I was wondering if there had been a few days when I had been cycling in each of my five ‘cycling years’. Alas the answer is ‘no’… …butย I find […]
In preparation for the publication of the final book in the popular andย acclaimedย European cyclingย trilogy (The 35 Degrees:ย Tarifaย to Nordkapp on a Bike Called Reggie, published inย spring 2017 fromย Summersdale)ย until August 31st… CROSSING EUROPE… / ALONG THE MED… JUST ยฃ1.99 / $2.99 / โฌ2.99 Latest Reviews for Crossing Europe on a […]
An updated promotion video for The 35 Degrees: Tarifa to Nordkapp on a Bike Called Reggie, published by Summersdale in spring 2017.
Normal service is resumed… And to get us going how about a little reminiscing; 100 photos from last year’s cycle from Tarifa to Nordkapp. The 35 Degrees: Tarifa to Nordkapp on a Bike Called Reggie will be published by Summersdale in spring 2017. Available in all good bookshops […]
If you follow this blog via Twitter or Facebook I should perhaps start with an apology that over recent weeks, the tweets and posts about cycling and travelling have been far outnumbered by those on the subject of the EU referendum next week. It’s a hollow apology however […]
Some news tonight of something that I never really thought would happen. The kind of thing that happens to others, not a French teacher from Yorkshire. But it has. I am delighted to announce that earlier today I signed on the dotted line… …and that The 35 Degrees: […]
Here’s the map (the first version at least). Feedback welcome.
The secondย exclusive extract from the upcoming book, The 35 Degrees: Tarifa to Nordkapp on a Bike Called Reggieย which will hit the shelves later this year. As with the previous extract – the fifth degree – what you read belowย is, of course, subject to change but it hopefully gives […]
It tends to go a bit quiet here on CyclingEurope.org as I’m writing the books but this should keep you occupied for a few minutes; the first exclusive(!) extract from the upcoming book, The 35 Degrees: Tarifa to Nordkapp on a Bike Called Reggieย which will hit the shelves […]
It’s taken a while to get started but start I have; The 35 Degrees: Tarifa to Nordkapp on a Bike Called Reggie is now in production and here’s an exclusive sneak preview of the very first chapter of the upcoming book… “It may not have required great feats […]
It’s good to know that after all this time, Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie and Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie ย are still ‘hot’ in the eyes of Apple… We are in good company: Bryson, Palin, Beaumont, Kennedy, Orwell, Clarkson… Hopefully The 35 Degrees* […]
A couple of nice reviews for Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggieย (now only ยฃ8.99 in paperback!) in the pastย few days… Remember that signed copies of either or both books are available for Christmas presents. More details here. Byย L. Laneย on 4 December 2015 The brilliant follow up […]
In theirย entirety, the photographs – yes, all of them! – are now available on the Cycling Europe on a Bike Called Reggie Facebook Page: Part 1: Spain Part 2: France Part 3: Belgium / The Netherlands Part 4: Germany Part 5: Denmark Part 6: Sweden Part 7: Norway […]
What a great title for a newspaper. And in the next edition, I’m being interviewed! You can already read the article online. I do like the picture that they have chosen (and cropped, and perhaps even coloured?) to accompany the text. If I wasn’t already (quite rightly) committed […]
Here’s the list, in pictorial form, of the current best sellers on Apple iBooks ‘Travel Writing’ section in the UK. Only two of the books on the list are, as far as I am aware, self-published. Since publication (in 2011 & 2014 respectively), those two self-published books have […]
One of the greatest frustrations when writing Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie and subsequently Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie was the constant need to rearrange the windows on the laptop in order to see what I needed to refer toย either online or elsewhere […]
Today has seen the posting of the 100th Amazon review for Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie.Below are reviews 97, 98, 99 and 100. Now, I really need to crack on with book 3… 5 Stars:ย Cracking Read Byย Book Addictย on 8 November 2015 Couldn’t wait to start […]
OK, it won’t be a film (yet), but here’s a little teaser trailer (move over Star Wars and Spectre…) for the new book, The 35 Degrees: Heading North on a Bike Called Reggie…
Here it is… …the very first draft of the new book. Well, kind of. It is merely the posts that I wrote for CyclingEurope.org between setting off from southern Spain at the start of April to the moment I set foot on British soil again in early August […]
It’s been a while since I’ve gathered together recent reviews for Along The Med…ย (which is now just ยฃ8.99 in paperback, ยฃ1.99 on Kindle) but here are some that have been posted over the summer: A thoroughly engaging, well written account of an inspiring journey. (DB63) Inspiring and every […]
Don’t get too excited – I haven’t yet started to write the thing – but I’ve just been trying to work out a structure for the new book. For the firstย two books I stuck to a format of a chapter perย day. That worked well for book 1 and […]
…die hard. The 1st September 2001 (or thereabouts) was the first time I experienced that first day back at school as a teacher. Today would have been my 15th first day back at school had I not taken the plunge and decided to quit my full-time teaching job […]
Whenever I post something about cycling – the previous post being a good example – I invariably receive at least one email or message or comment saying something along the lines of “All this cycling stuff is great Andrew but, quite frankly, I’d rather know more about theย current […]
Did you follow Andrew as he cycled from Tarifa to Nordkapp earlier this summer? Are you yearning to read more tales about long days in the saddle?ย Well, for a very limited period, the ‘wonderful, witty, inspirational’ cycling travelogues ‘Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie‘ and ‘Along […]
This is a very nice review for ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘. Thanks Graham Hind!
Now back in the UK after my successful cycle from Tarifa to Nordkapp, at some point over the next few weeks (or more likely months) my mind will turn towards completing the European cycling trilogy of books that started with Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie and […]
From Kathryn, a librarian in Northumberland, on Twitter: “@kafylou: Did this display in work this week (a little late I know) the 1st book 2go was @CyclingEurope #ikidyounot #librarians”
I can’t deny that there was more than just a little bit of me that felt very guilty about booking this ‘coastal steamer’ (aka cruise) along the coast of Norway. Anyone who has read Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie (just ยฃ2.49!) will no doubt recall […]
Here’s a nice review for Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie which goes some way to counteract the grim weather I’m currently experiencing in northern Norway… Thanks Mrs. Koisser.
Yesterday the following review was posted on Amazon.co.uk for ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘: Now first of all I’m grateful to the reviewer for having taken the time to write the review. The reader has clearly enjoyed reading the book as it has been […]
Just spotted this article about the first two books…
‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘ and ‘Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie‘ are still riding high in the cycling books chart – that’s all cycling books, not just Kindle ones – at Amazon.co.uk. If you have been one of the people who have downloaded […]
So it’s Monday 9th March and I’m just about to start my second week at the language school here in Cรกdiz. Perhaps first of all I should apologise to all those people who are desperate for me to start writing about cycling once again. At the moment there […]
I’ve just read the following comment on Instagram and I’m very touched indeed. Many thanks to Dr. Guru Singh for writing whatย he has:
I am delighted to announce that ‘Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie‘ has now broken into the highly competitive Indian book market. It is currently the number 1 cycling eBook available on Amazon.in!ย (OK, I admit it, it’s sold one copy but it’s a start…) Meanwhile back […]
Two new reviews for ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘… ‘Guru’ writes on Amazon.co.uk: 5* – An epic journey across the Mediterranean by Reggie and a man called Andrew “I read Andrew’s first book Crossing Europe on a Bike called Reggie twice and enjoyed it even […]
Guru Singh – ‘Singh of the Mountains‘ – is challenging himself to cycle over the Alps in aid of Cancer Research. Despite his cold, I’m delighted to say that ‘Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie‘ and ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘ are helping to […]
It’s taken some time but finally the Waterstone’s website is now listing both Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie and Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie with their correct titles and front cover images! Many thanks to the people at Completely Novel and The eBook […]
Don’t forget that both ‘Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie‘ and ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘ are available on Appleย iTunes / iBooks. ‘Along The Med…’ has just received three five-star reviews in as many days!
I’m spending my Saturday morning signing and wrapping copies of Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie and Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie. If you would like to purchase a signed copy of either or both of the books, follow this link to find out […]
It’s good to know that ‘Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie‘ is still finding new fans. Here’s a review just posted byย Daniel Cox on Amazon.co.uk (where you can currently download the eBook for just ยฃ1.55 – bargain!): “Given I thoroughly enjoy cycling and European travel, I had […]
A couple of new reviews. The first from Paul Dennis at Amazon.co.uk for Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie: “Once again Andrew Sykes (and Reggie) lead you on an adventure, exploring new places and making you feel like you are actually there with them. Beautifully written […]
What do I need to do to get a literary agent and a publishing contract???? Positions number 1 and 4 in the iTunes ‘Travel Writing‘ chart. Number 1 in the iTunes ‘Travel and Adventure‘ category and a third book out in 2016. It’s enough to make you leave […]
Kevin Mayne, formerly of the CTC and now at the European Cyclists Federation has just posted a review for ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie’ on his own cycling website…
About a month ago I summarised the reviews that had so far been posted to Amazon for Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie. Here’s an update as to what people have been saying in October; “I am approximately two thirds of the way through this and […]
When it comes to writing pieces for this website, September is always a lean month. I’ve just been looking back at the number of posts made every month and since 2009 when CyclingEurope.org burst into life on the world wide web (albeit under the much less catchy soubriquet […]
‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘ has now been available for nearly twoย months and the reviews have been very positive! Here isย a selection of comments from the reviews so far posted to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com: โHumorous, entertaining and even informative. Hard to put down. Travel writing […]
A few months ago in late springย I was interviewed over the phone (I suppose that bit is important) by a journalist from The Weekly News. Excellent! It was a nice chat with Craig, I sent him some pictures and he proceeded to write the article and send it […]
I live in Reading, Berkshire and I’m a member of the Reading Cycle Campaign. I wrote the following for their current newsletter: “The Cycle Campaign asked me a couple of months ago if I’d be interested in contributing something to the newsletter and here is my first piece. […]
Fear not! It’s not another book, and it won’t be (unless someone calls with an offer I can’t refuse) but it does sum up my plan for August 2014 in terms of cycling. This afternoon I bought a ticket for the overnight sleeper train from London Euston to […]
Courtesy of Wordle, here are the top 100 words contained in Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie… (see comments below) The top 100 words do not include very common English words. The word ‘cycling‘ appears 568 times in the book but the word ‘but‘ rears its […]
Well, I’ve got to have a press release, no? Press Release: โAlong The Med on a Bike Called Reggieโ For immediate distribution Wednesday 30th Julyย 2014, Reading, Berkshire We are delighted to announce the publication of the cycling travelogue ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘ by Yorkshire […]
Here it is… (If you see any errors, please let me know before it goes to print! It’s not geographically perfect by the way…): Here is a previous version (spot the differences!):And here is the draft version:
…will be published on Friday 1st August 2014.ย The much anticipated follow up to ‘Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie‘ will be available initially as an eBook at Amazon and in paperback from CompletelyNovel. ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘ will be available on other platforms […]
The Yorkshire Bicycle Show takes place over the weekend of the Tour de France Grand Depart in Yorkshire, the 4th – 6th July, at Leeds Town Hall. The organisers have just finalised the list of talks that will be hosted as part of the event and here it […]
Yesterday was my birthday. It wasn’t a great birthday as I also happened to be ill and had taken the day off work. I’m still ill and I’m still off work. Late last night as I was coughing in my bed, unable to fall asleep, I heard my […]
Luke Chiswellย tweeted theย picture below this morning and it reveals the great news that despite what the image on their website would have you believe, Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie is now being delivered with its brand new cover. Yippee!
Coming To A Radio Station / Cafรฉ / Pub / Bike Shop / Cathedral Near You! Well, if you live in Yorkshire… Later this week I’ll be talking a short break from putting together the final chapters of Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie (due out […]
Here is the thirdย in a series of extracts from the soon-to-be-published book โAlong The Med on a Bike Called Reggieโ. If you havenโt done so already, you may want to read extract 1 (which was about cycling day 11 in Albania) by followingย this linkย and read extract 2 (which […]
Well, I’ll be in Leeds at the Yorkshire Bike Show for the launch of ‘Along The Med on a Bike Called Reggie‘ at 3pm on 5th July (come along!) after having watched the ‘off’ just outside Leeds Town Hall (which is the venue for the show). On Sunday […]
