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
biking
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
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
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
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
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