Pedalling About

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Hamburg, Germany – Esbjerg, Denmark, June 2010, 600 miles

Almost a year to the day after arriving back into London having had our first taste of cycling on the continent, we were heading back across the North Sea to continue along the world’s longest signposted cycle route.

This time we would head north-eastwards through the Netherlands, Germany and into Denmark – double the distance and duration than in 2009.  We hadn’t been able to get any girls along again, but Laura wasn’t going to miss out, so prepared herself for a week’s worth of ‘boy humour’ along with visits to two of Europe’s most famous red light districts. (more…)

May 2008, Land’s End to John O’Groats, UK, 1,050 miles

In May 2011, I’ll be leaving work, renting out my home and catching a flight to Rio de Janeiro to cycle around every country in South America. How did it come to this?

My first taste of bicycle touring was in the summer of 2008, when I cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats in two weeks. The idea came from the need to find a physical challenge that didn’t destroy my knees as much as the London Marathon had done in the last few years.

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London, UK – Calais, Fr – Bruges, Be – Rotterdam, Nl – London, UK, June 2009, 370 miles

“We’ll get a big group together and cycle to Holland. It’s flat on the continent and easy riding. It’ll be loads of fun. We’ll stop lots for food and beer, and we’ll have a rest day in Bruges. Go on, you’ll love it.”

That’s how I got sucked into bike touring. The way Paddy sold it sounded like fun. We’d spend a week of our 2009 summer holidays with friends ambling along the European coast of the North Sea. Sure the days would be long – 60 to 80 miles, but I had plenty of time to train and anyway, it’s flat on the continent. I was in. (more…)