Tag: Cycling
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The Frog Whitton Challenge
Cycling and dipping in the 16 biggest water bodies in the Lake District Last summer, Laura cycled around the Lake District, dipping into the 16 largest water bodies, in what she’s christened the Frog Whitton Challenge. She tells us more in this blog post. Many years ago, together with a group of mates, I decided…
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West Windermere Way
A brand new 6km accessible trail has just opened on the west side of Windermere. Laura and our three sons went to explore… What is the West Windermere Way? The West Windermere Way is a 6km* accessible route, from Newby Bridge at the southern tip up to Lakeside YMCA. The first section up to Lakeside…
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Online Cycle Touring Festival – Starts today
The 2022 Cycle Touring Festival launches today with a week of free online events. Browse the programme and register at www.cycletouringfestival.co.uk Talks include: Fat biking through Columbia and Ecuador Britain’s 6,000 islands: which are the best for biking? Paralympian Mel Nicholls on hand-cycling the British coast 1,001 Cycling Tips: not all advice is good advice…
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Cycle Touring on Shetland
We spent nine days cycling the length of Shetland with our two young children last summer as part of a five week tour of Scotland. This is Laura’s account of our time at top of the UK… Famous for ponies, puffins and knitting, Shetland is a popular destination for bird spotters and wildlife watchers. However,…
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Cycling to Shetland
Nine years ago, Laura and I set out to cycle from the Scilly Isles to the Shetland Islands. Next month, we will finally complete the journey. In 2012, as training for our planned round-the-world cycle, Laura and I planned to ride the length of the UK. However, two days into the trip I had a…
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Free Cycle Touring Talks (and a live event tomorrow night)
Riding the Pamir Highway, 22,000 miles of father/son cycling, round-the-world tandem record breakers, adapting any bike for touring, touring in a time of Covid, cycling in Israel/Palestine, the ethics of cycle touring, and Timmy Mallett cycling the Santiago de Compostela. All these talks and more are now available to watch, for free, on the Cycle…
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This Friday: The Cycle Touring Festival Goes Online
Starting this Friday, there are 10 days of free online events being held as part of the 2021 Virtual Cycling Touring Festival. Events include: Timmy Mallett – interview with the TV legend about his ride to Spain and back Capturing the sound of the UK – Paul Cheese cycled 5,000 miles around the British Isles…
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Cycling to the Åland Islands with a baby
Last summer, Laura and I spent a month cycling up the Baltic coast towards the Aland Islands: Scandinavia’s answer to the Hebrides. Accompanying us for his first long tour was our son, nine months old at the time, towed behind me in a trailer. We did the journey there and back by ferry and train…
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Isolation Adventures: 10 ideas for keeping active under lockdown
So, the lockdown continues. Another three weeks here in the UK and no doubt more to come. On the plus side, we have at least been allowed more freedom for getting outside and staying active. The challenge, as is often the case, is probably more mental than physical. How do you stay motivated when you’re…
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Cycle touring, without the flights
For its sixth year, the Cycle Touring Festival is focussing on the near abroad: bicycle adventures that don’t involve flying. The festival is organised by my wife, Laura. It is the only festival in the UK aimed specifically at cycle touring (which is basically any bike trip that lasts more than a day). Every year…
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Cycling Across Denmark While Pregnant
Meandering down the banks of the Elbe on a sunny May morning, we were surrounded by cyclists of all tribes. Parents and children rode next to old men on novelty bikes. Lycra-clad women flew past at speed as young couples gossiped on sit-up-and-begs. Commuters picked their way through the crowds, while my husband Tim and…
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Cycling to the Most Northerly Inhabited Part of the UK to Perform a One Woman Mythological Opera in a Lighthouse
Without doubt, this is the best title I have ever had on my blog. When I read it on the application form for my grant, I knew I had to support it. In fact, it’s such a good title that I don’t think I really need to offer any more explanation (even if I were…