After arriving in Nice 48 hours ago, Rich and Graeme summarise the trip, discussing the route, gear and their favourite climbs. There is a special fromage du jour that links the first and last days of the trip, and Rich gets something in his eye.
Cycling
Paris-Nice Day Ten: Alpes-Maritimes and Nice
Puget-Thèniers to Nice, 103km. The last day of our tour. After a leisurely packup we took on the last two climbs of the trip, interspersed with some magnificent scenery, improbable villages and great coffee, before finally arriving on the Côte d'Azur for celebratory beers.
Paris-Nice Day Nine: Col de la Cayolle
Jausiers to Puget-Thèniers, 103km. Rich and Graeme set off for one last big climb, the stunning Col de la Cayolle, which we shared with a bike race. Rich talked through the last stretches of a col and of course there was a very good fromage du jour.
Paris-Nice Day Eight: Col d’Izoard and Col de Vars
Briançon to Jausiers, 93km. Refreshed after our rest day we tackled a real icon, the wonderful climb up Col d'Izoard, the perfect Alpine climb. After a stunning descent, a puncture and a crash, we were behind again and had to push on hard top get over the last col.
Paris-Nice Day Seven: Col du Galibier
La Chambre to Briançon 96km. Today’s ride started off gently with a great French breakfast but the work soon began with a long tough climb up two cols. First the scenic Col de l’Albanne, then after Valloire the big one - Galibier at 2642m. A proper day in the mountains.
Paris-Nice Day Six: Col de la Madeleine
Annecy to La Chambre, 97km. A beautiful intro around Annecy lake and through gorgeous Alpine meadows. After breakfast, Rich met a collie that reminded him of home we tackled our first major col, the Col de la Madeleine at 1998m, and finished on a gorgeous campsite.
Paris-Nice Day Five: Into the Mountains
Vonnes to Annecy, 165km. A tough day. Today’s ride took Rich and Graeme into the foothills of the Alps. It was a grumpy start, a challenging ride and it took all our mental and physical strength to push through to Annecy - where all the campsites were full.
Paris-Nice Day Four: Bourgogne
Bourbon-Lancy to Vonnes, 135km. Today there was a bit of everything: a long ride, good climbs, thunderstorms in the forecast and of course a mandatory stop for a cheese that Rich had been particularly looking forward to. In the pod Rich witters about warblers and there's even a big tunnel.
Paris-Nice Day Three: Loire-en-Bourgogne
Briare to Bourbon-Lancy, 184km. Hungry, we head out after a big breakfast of scrambled eggs in search of cheese and wine. We find both in lovely Sancerre, and with the main issue of the day ticked off there’s just a hell of a lot of riding to be done.
Paris-Nice Day Two: The Three Rivers
Moret-sur-Seine to Briare, 148km. Today started brightly and we made good progress, taking in a disused velodrome and a cycle museum as we make our way south through the sunshine along the Scandiberique. But then Graeme’s rear derailleur broke and threatened to derail the whole trip.
Paris-Nice Day One: Île de Paris
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
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
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 to Exmoor
The last week or so has flown by, and all of a sudden the Paris trip is upon us. In three weeks we’ll be exiting the French capital en route to Nice, and today was my last opportunity to train. Next week is the last one before half term - always a busy one - … Continue reading From the Exe to Exmoor
Paris-Nice 2026 Podcast – 30 Days to Go
30 days before departure, Graeme and I met up online to talk about the ride ahead. We discussed planning, the route ahead, gear choices, fitness and a multitude of other things we're excited or anxious about.
Bike Anxiety
We now have just 40 days to go until the big trip from Paris to Nice, and I’m starting to get anxious. It’s not my fitness. I’ve worked hard this year and shed 9kg in weight, and I’m probably as fit as I’ve ever been. We have the logistics nailed, trains and ferries booked, and … Continue reading Bike Anxiety
Morning out in South Norfolk
This morning, I left the family snoozing in our tent and took myself off for an early morning ride around the nearby villages. Our campsite is right next to Banham zoo and so far on our holiday it has been too cold to sit outside in the evening and enjoy the sounds emanating from the … Continue reading Morning out in South Norfolk
A Big Day Out Around Exeter
My wife, Elaine and I had one of those awkward negotiations this week. If you’re into cycling and your partner isn’t, you’ll know how it goes. ‘I fancy a big ride this weekend.’ Silence. ‘The forecast looks a bit rubbish on Friday and Saturday. Maybe I could go on one of those days so we … Continue reading A Big Day Out Around Exeter
Advancing in the Moonlight
This was a really nice feature over four pages about an overnight Audax cycling event that I rode with my friend Graeme in November. The first version appeared here on this blog and I sent in an edited version to the Audax members' magazine, Arrivée. It was published in their spring 2026 issue and I'm … Continue reading Advancing in the Moonlight
The Long Way Home
At last it’s that time of year again! The sun is out, the sky is blue, conditions are absolutely perfect for cycling, and up and down the country the same conversations are taking place in cyclists’ households. When is the best time for me to go out for a ride this weekend? It isn’t always … Continue reading The Long Way Home
Paris-Nice 2026 – the DIY version
We're going to Nice! Find out about our plans for our epic ride across France on vintage Peugeot bikes, to celebrate our joint 50th birthdays. With a nod to Laurent Fignon and an eye on cheese-munching, here's the route we've planned and why we're doing it.
Moonrakers and Sunseekers 2025
Beautiful dawn at Bournemouth It's 5.30am on a Saturday. The air is cold and crisp, bitingly sharp on the lungs. My fingers and toes are satisfyingly numb with the cold. Behind us, away to the east, the sky is starting to crimson below a thin line of grey clouds, and the warming air will soon … Continue reading Moonrakers and Sunseekers 2025
Green Lanes, Potholes and Punctures
Summer ended pretty sharpish, didn't it? One day I was sitting on the decking in the evening sunshine enjoying a pre-dinner pastis and a few olives, and the next I was sitting in my kitchen listening to the wind howl while looking up recipes for hearty stews. This country. My least favourite time of year. … Continue reading Green Lanes, Potholes and Punctures
Reflections on the Tour de France 2025
Dawn over the Rance For once I'm the first one awake. The open skylight lets in enough breeze to wake and cool me, the first light of the day creeping into the attic room, last night's beers gently fogging my brain. I quickly get myself organised, make just enough noise to say goodbye to Graeme … Continue reading Reflections on the Tour de France 2025
Following the Tour de France Day Two: Aucaleuc to Saint-Carreuc
65km, 683m climbing, 3h15min, average speed 19.8km/h Watching Geriant Thomas lead the breakaway through Saint-Carreuc Near the start of Friday's ride, recorded from Plancöet (1:05) The discussion about how to play Friday's stage started almost as soon as we got in the car, continued through dinner and drinks, and was only really concluded at breakfast. … Continue reading Following the Tour de France Day Two: Aucaleuc to Saint-Carreuc
Following the Tour de France Day One: Caen to La Boussac
200km, 1451m climbing; 11 hours 30 minutes (moving 9h30), average speed 21km/h Approaching Mont St Michel Start of the day at Ouistreham, a bit of a prologue to the day (1:28) Not for the first time in my life, I woke up in the same spot where I'd finished a beer just a few hours … Continue reading Following the Tour de France Day One: Caen to La Boussac
Tour de France 2025 – Prologue
Audio version of this post! Ship and Castle, Portsmouth It's the eve of trip two of the year to France! This one is going be a new one for us and I'm really excited and a little bit anxious as well, because we are going to follow a couple of days of the Tour de … Continue reading Tour de France 2025 – Prologue
Tour of Brittany Day Three: Plouider to Roscoff
Preview of the day's ride recorded at Plouider on the morning of the ride. 1:17 At last, the morning brings warm weather and blue skies. Our shortest day of the trip coincided with the best weather. We awoke to a proper Breton early summer's morning; blue skies, a crisp coolness in the air, and the … Continue reading Tour of Brittany Day Three: Plouider to Roscoff
Tour of Brittany Day Two: Brest to Plouider
Summary of day two's ride, recorded at Plouider the following morning. 3:02 It was a bleak night. The rain beat down periodically on the metal shutters like a thousand tiny hammers, and was soon joined in the percussion session by the loud dripping of a drainpipe onto metal. I shuffled uncomfortably on my thin pillow … Continue reading Tour of Brittany Day Two: Brest to Plouider
Tour of Brittany 2025 – the Prologue
Ready for the off, in my Ned Boulting yellow jumper Listen to an audio version of this post! Welcome to day one of bike tour! Well, I suppose it’s the prologue, really. First day of our annual cycling trip to France and just on my way to meet Graeme in a few minutes at Stover … Continue reading Tour of Brittany 2025 – the Prologue
Cycling the Dorset Coast Audax
This blog post is available as an audio file via the player above - simply click to play the audio, and please excuse the large number of 'um's and 'you know's. It's all a bit of an experiment! This year, my friend Graeme and I have started cycling a type of event called an audax. … Continue reading Cycling the Dorset Coast Audax
Cycling the Brecon Beacons Day Two
The Black Mountains If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period. Fair-weather riding is a luxury reserved for Sunday afternoons and wide boulevards. Those who ride in foul weather – be it cold, wet, or inordinately hot – are members of a special club of riders who, on … Continue reading Cycling the Brecon Beacons Day Two
Cycling the Brecon Beacons Day One
The central beacons A crack of light made its way through the black-out curtains, just enough to make me open a bleary eye. I blinked. I picked up my phone - 8.03. Time to stir. A peer out through the dawn light revealed a grey sky behind Dinas Castle, and behind the dark peaks of … Continue reading Cycling the Brecon Beacons Day One
Mini tour of Brittany day 2 – Camaret-sûr-Met to Huelgoat
After the most magnificent breakfast buffet at the Thalassa Hotel this morning, it was time to tear myself away from the joys of Camaret-sûr-Mer and head inland. It was a bright and sunny morning and I was tempted to lengthen my route by exploring the beaches around Crozon, but there were still squalls around and … Continue reading Mini tour of Brittany day 2 – Camaret-sûr-Met to Huelgoat
Mini tour of Brittany day 1 – Roscoff to Camaret-sûr-Mer
I am writing this blog from the road! This weekend I am over in France, doing my own little solo cycling tour. I’ve done a couple of trips with Graeme in previous years, cycling the Petit Tour de Manche from Cherbourg to Roscoff. We’ve always had absolutely awesome weather so it was a bit of … Continue reading Mini tour of Brittany day 1 – Roscoff to Camaret-sûr-Mer
Movember Cycling Challenge
In a break from my usual Dartmoor-related posts, I've decided to post about the cycling challenge I've set myself for the end of this year. This is the blogging equivalent of asking people to stick hot pins in their eyes, so if you'd rather skip straight to the sponsorship, my Mo Space is here. Thanks! … Continue reading Movember Cycling Challenge
Riding up to Coldeast
Photos from my ride: the view from near Berry Pomeroy, Coldeast, up on the moor near Saddle Tor, and a handsome man with Haytor on the skyline. This morning, with boys at school and Elaine working from home, I had the rare opportunity of an extended guilt-free ride. I used to keep fit by cycling … Continue reading Riding up to Coldeast