WillCycle
Slough GUC cycle route overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) The Slough arm of the Grand Union Canal branches off the main canal. I started this route right by the Slough railway station, and it ends at the West Drayton train station. … Read more
Anna McNuff is a British adventurer, perhaps best known for her barefoot, long-distance running. She had this idea of using a scooter (the type that you push with one foot) to travel down the length of South America. To accompany her, McNuff enlisted a friend of hers, Faye. When initial testing (in the UK) showed … Read more
Hills. Love them, or loathe them, but hills undeniably make cycling more interesting. The thing that determines how you feel about hills isn’t found in your muscles. Instead, it exists in your mind. If you view hills as punishment, and obstacles, then they will seem bigger, and more difficult. But it doesn’t have to be … Read more
A few months ago, on the recommendation of a friend, I purchased a DJI Neo drone. There were several reasons behind my decision to buy the Neo, and that started with them recommending it highly. Why a drone? That’s simple to answer: I recently started doing videos, to supplement my traffic-free cycling route guides. Using … Read more
This book is unusual in that you don’t often read of a father-and-son cycle touring combination. Charlesworth writes of when he joined his son – who was cycling around the world – to cycle through Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan and India. For any would-be cycle tourers, now would be a good time to get out a … Read more
I’m a huge fan of wild camping, and by default will wild camp when cycle touring. Yes, even in England and/or Wales, where people will tell you wild camping is illegal. Of course, when wild camping, you will want to pick your sites with care. After all, if nobody knows you’re there, nobody can ask … Read more
In the previous post, I explained the reasons why I decided to rebuild my bike. The big concern was the threads for the bottom bracket. With those having been damaged by the numpty I entrusted to replace the BB some 6 months ago, it was important to get it fixed by an expert. In practical … Read more
My bike is a 2016 Genesis CdA 20. It started life as a gravel bike, but I’ve made extensive modifications, to turn it into a touring bike. I don’t treat the bike with kid gloves, and I ride on all sorts or terrain, some of it quite rough. As a result, my bike’s taken a … Read more
If I had £1 for every time anyone in the UK said “They should widen this road to help with congestion”, or “Cycle lanes cause congestion”, I’d be a very rich man! However, it’s easy to see why so many people make those same basic mistakes. At least on the surface, it seems to make … Read more
The blurb on this book hooked me from the start: “Paul is more than your average cyclist. About five stones more.” It goes on to say it “follows Paul’s novice attempt at cycle touring”. So far, it sounds great. The start The book starts with Parsons describing cyclists who carry almost nothing on the bike, … Read more
The Wray Valley Trail cycle route overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) The Wray Valley Trail links Bovey Tracey with Moretonhampstead, with much of the route along a disused railway line. The route takes it’s name from the Wray Valley, through which … Read more
The Stover Trail cycle route overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) The Stover Trail gets its name from the Stover canal, and it runs alongside the canal for a significant part. This route guide starts at Newton Abbott train station, which is … Read more
Gears for Queers is a book by Abigail Melton and Lilith Cooper, or Abi and Lili, as you’ll get to know them. In the foreword, the authors say the book was “written specifically for the queers, for other fat, disabled, trans, female, femme and non-binary people”. While it may have been written with all those … Read more
Long-time readers will know that I love my coffee, and I’m forever looking at ways to improve my ability to have a great cup of coffee, no matter where I may be. A new concept No Normal Coffee is a completely new concept. It’s important to understand from the outset that it is effectively instant … Read more
There’s far more to getting hydration right that simply being told to “take a few sips of water every 15 minutes”. Equally important, be exceptionally wary of claims made by companies whose business relies on selling you supplements. With that out of the way, let’s examine the science. What is dehydration? The NHS tells us … Read more