While enjoying a toasted cheese sandwich earlier this year I was astonished to learn that Bovey Tracey is home to a bike framebuilder, Pi Manson. Framebuilding is a vanishing art with very few practitioners still working in the UK, with most bicycles now being made abroad. Pi is a passionate bucker of this trend. He … Continue reading Interview with Pi Manson
adventure
Auvergne
On paper, the last few days were a match made in heaven. Volcanoes set in a World Heritage Site. Check. Iconic cycling climbs. Check. Perfect summer weather. Check. Cheese? Oh yes. Auvergne didn’t disappoint. We can deal with the volcanoes and iconic cycling climbs in one. Auvergne is home to the Chaînes des Puys, a … Continue reading Auvergne
Shore to Moor 200
On Friday evening, I got my Scott bike out for its usual pre-ride check. I cleaned the drivetrain, checked the brakes, and noticed a bit of play in the headset. I loosened the stem bolts, got the cap bolt finger tight, tightened the stem bolts again, no improvement. I did the same again but with … Continue reading Shore to Moor 200
Timanfaya
I've been riding on the Rouvy for almost a year now, and I love it. If you're unfamiliar with the training platform, it's basically a glorified exercise bike hooked up to a monitor. As you pedal, the scenery changes, simulating a ride through a real life cycling route. The resistance reflects the gradient in front … Continue reading Timanfaya
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.
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 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 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.
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
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
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
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
Review: OEX Bobcat I Ultralight Tent
The bobcat in situ at Petruth Paddocks, Cheddar. With a summer of bikepacking ahead, it was time for a new tent. Like any self-respecting outdoorsy chap I have a range of tents, from the enormous five metre family bell tent (read about that one here - I reviewed it in 2020!), through small mountain tents … Continue reading Review: OEX Bobcat I Ultralight Tent
News: Cockington Primary School join world’s largest children’s choir
My son has been taking part in Performing Arts club at school with his wonderful teachers and for the last couple of years they have had the opportunity to go to Young Voices in Birmingham. It’s a wonderful event that needed to be celebrated! Read the full article on the People’s Republic of South Devon.
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
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 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
Cloddfa Gwanas Quarries and Waun-oer
This weekend we had a bit of a mission to go to Snowdonia for some mountain walks. I’m planning to go for Summer Mountain Leader assessment in the next 12-18 months, and as part of that journey I need to log a total of 40 ‘quality mountain days’ during the consolidation period between training and … Continue reading Cloddfa Gwanas Quarries and Waun-oer