It’s a long ride today - 190 km. Undeterred, we head out after a big breakfast of scrambled eggs and head out on the road in search of cheese and wine. We find it both in lovely Sancerre, and with the main issue of the day ticked there’s just a hell of a lot of … Continue reading Day Three: Loire-en-Borgogne
Day Two: The Seine to the Loire
A long day today, punctuated by punctures and a derailleur issue that almost derails the trip. But in the end we successfully make it to Briare on the river Loire, and find some reasonably good cheese.
Day One: Paris and the Seine
Rich and Graeme’s epic journey from Paris to Nice is under way! Today’s highlights include a whistle stop tour of the French capital and then an easy roll along the Seine for the first camp. Or so we thought…
Guest Post: It’s All About the Bike
Thanks to my best mate and long-time cycling co-traveller Graeme for contributing this ace blog! First of all, an apology for paraphrasing this on the autobiography of an infamous Texan cyclist but in this instance it seems rather apt. The bike - a Peugeot Premiere. A bog standard budget 80s machine in sky blue, the … Continue reading Guest Post: It’s All About the Bike
Waun Fach and the Dragon’s Back
Rich and the family are in the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) taking the long hike up to Waun Fach in the Black Mountains. After an early start, it’s breakfast on the hill and a good walk through one of Wales’s most beautiful landscapes. To read the blog that accompanies this podcast and for a … Continue reading Waun Fach and the Dragon’s Back
Waun Fach and the Dragon’s Back
Earlier this year, we talked about taking on a big challenge this summer and, while my initial ideas of backpacking around west Wales or taking on the South Downs Way haven’t come off yet, yesterday we tackled something I’ve wanted to do for a while - the Dragon’s Back. I adore the Brecon Beacons - … Continue reading Waun Fach and the Dragon’s Back
Morning out in the Malverns
Here’s a new one. For the last week or so, I have been completely fed up of my bike. Since New Year I’ve been training fairly hard for the Paris-Nice trip, and therein lies the problem. I’ve lost 8kg and I’m fitter than I have been for a while. Actually, realistically, I’m as fit as … Continue reading Morning out in the Malverns
Interview with Jon Oliverio of Cycle Torbay
I've wanted to catch up with Jon for a while. His workshop is in the same building as my social enterprise is based, and I often stop for a look at the bikes he has been donated and projects being worked on. So I was delighted to get the chance to speak to Jon at … Continue reading Interview with Jon Oliverio of Cycle Torbay
Podcast: Exe Estuary to Exmoor
If you're a blog subscriber you might not have noticed that I have a new podcast on the website called Pain and Fromage! I've set this up to gather together some of the audio that I've recorded on various trips but also to share some experiences from the road (mostly, I think from bike trips). … Continue reading Podcast: Exe Estuary to Exmoor
From the Exe Estuary to Exmoor
Rich is on his last training ride before heading to Paris! Today he is heading from Dawlish up the river Exe to Bampton, across the southern edge of Exmoor to Wellington and back south via Cullompton and Broadclyst. It's a glorious day with a bit of a headwind and there's a Chinese waiting for him … Continue reading From the Exe Estuary to Exmoor