Will

You know the feeling: there you are, happily pedalling along when suddenly a vehicle passes so close it almost scrapes the paint of your bike. We’ve all had near-misses and we’ve all had our lives flash before our eyes, just because some driver cut you up, overtook with millimetres to spare or done something else that nearly … Read more

Yesterday I cycled to West Hoe park with my youngest, who wanted to go on the tag-along, as there are uphills her little legs don’t like too much.When we eventually left the park, we decided to cycle up Hoe road, on Plymouth’s  foreshore. Hoe road is a one-way against us, but there is a contra-flow … Read more

I e-mailed West Devon Borough Council, asking for an update on Gem bridge, as well as Grenofen Tunnel and Ashmill bridge, and this is what I got by way of reply:“Devon County Council’s aspiration is for the Grenofen Tunnel and Gem Bridge works to be completed, and the route open by late spring 2012. Given … Read more

I’ve posted before about a particular problem  I have: my phone runs out of battery power after a few hours of GPS usage. Even when I don’t use GPS, I tend to take quite a few pictures when I’m out and about. There are well-known solutions to this problem. Simply by replacing the front wheel … Read more

I’m going to steer clear of the moral arguments around the riots. As you will be well aware, by now every right-wing zealot has been calling for all sorts of draconian, stupid and impractical measures, while many have to their shame called for soldiers on the streets, as well as the use of rubber bullets. On … Read more

I spent a couple of days in Warwick, and made good use of the time to cycle parts of the grand Union Canal, which links London and Birmingham. Living in Plymouth, I am not used to canals at all, and the fact that I was not cycling alongside a river was brought home to me when … Read more

Last Saturday I drove up to Barnstaple, specifically to cycle NCN27 to Ilfracombe and back. I parked up very close to the station, and discovered to my horror that I forgot my cycling shoes! I have clipless pedals on my bike, and without my cycling shoes I cannot attach to the pedals. A quick trip … Read more

On Saturday, I took some more photos I was given some photos, by a complete stranger that I will never recognise again. It was dark when the stranger gave me a micro-SD card containing the photos, and I’m sure he was wearing a wig, a false beard and sunglasses, so I cannot describe him at all.As I … Read more

Saw this bike in the centre of Plymouth last weekend, while out cycling with my youngest. I asked the paramedic about the weight, and he invited me to try and lift it. It was heavy! I have only the greatest admiration for any paramedic, as a starting point, and probably double that for bicycle paramedics!

I love the Plym Valley Trail, and I love Drake’s Trail, and I’m not afraid to admit it, but this post is about the Granite Way, and why I believe it’s better. First, the iffy bits: From Lydford, the official route takes you via a roundabout way through Bridestowe onto the point where you cross … Read more

I went cycling yesterday, not with any firm plans regarding the route other than perhaps cycling to Lydford and back, obviously trying to stick to NCN 27 as far as possible. As I’ve posted before, during the construction of Gem bridge, the “preferred” section of the route is closed, and will remain closed until at … Read more

Earlier today I had a chance to have a look at what progress has been made at Gem bridge, over the Walkham valley and on the same spot as Brunel’s original Grenofen viaduct. Actually I didn’t go there just to see what progress had been made – this time I wanted to go and have … Read more

Amongst much fanfare, the Cycle-West.com site has been launched! Oh! You didn’t know about it? Then allow me to enlighten you: it is a New! Improved! network of cycle paths in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, as well as parts of France.Given that my experience of France is limited to a 4-hour stop-over at Charles de … Read more

Although it hasn’t actually been formally established, Thomas Paine is thought to have said “The only thing required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.”There is quite a common legal principle around the world which holds an accomplice to a crime as guilty as the perpetrator of the crime. In view … Read more

I’ve posted before about Sonya’s, a little coffee shop and restaurant in Yelverton. The decor isn’t much – in fact, it’s rather plain, but the staff are friendly, it has a good atmosphere, and the coffee & walnut cake is quite yummy.I cannot comment on the rest of the menu, as all I’ve ever had … Read more