Will 
Now autumn’s here (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) it’s not long before the really cold weather will be here. Obviously, cycling in cold weather is significantly different. For starters, you need a strategy for dealing with the cold. You may need to alter your routes, to avoid the risk of black ice. As for dealing … Read more
The Longendale Trail is located in the Peak District National Park. It follows the track bed of the old Great Central Railway, starting in Hadfield, to finish almost 9 miles later in Salter’s Brook. From the start, the trail starts heading uphill, but it’s a gentle incline. However, after 7 miles, there’s a steep uphill. … Read more
This challenge is aimed at people who don’t cycle commute, and the principle is very simple: commute to work at least once per month, every month. Habits Science tells us it takes most people 66 days to form a new habit, though some can do it in as little as 21 days. Clearly, cycle commuting … Read more
The Lighthouse Trail cycle route overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) The Lighthouse Trail is a stunning 13 mile ride along the very scenic North East coast, passing a total of seven lighthouses, as it follows the coast south. Almost all the … Read more
eBikes are cool, and anyone who claims that ebikes are somehow “cheating” are simply jealous. On my commute, there’s a mile-long climb of mainly a steady 11%, and I know I’m always envious of the ebike riders who breeze past me up there. However, for all their advantages (and there are a great many) ebikes … Read more
Of all my GoCycle multi-day routes, my Somerset Circle is one of my personal favourites. This route has it all: vibrant cityscapes (yet with traffic-free paths), absolutely flat roads, some challenging climbs, rural idyll, gravel routes, several tunnels, modern and 1000-year old buildings, more history (ancient and more recent) and miles and miles of traffic-free … Read more
I’m often puzzled by the reaction of cyclists when it comes to sustainability in the bicycle industry. While there are signs that things are very slowly starting to change, the global cycling industry remains overall stuck in a business model of designed obsolescence. Designed obsolescence? Absolutely! And Shimano is one of the biggest culprits here, … Read more
Op Snap is the system available in England and Wales, where cyclists can report bad driving by uploading video from their helmet cam. However, not all Op Snap reports are equal – do read this post about making a better Op Snap report, as well as this post about improving it even further. 1. Not … Read more
Right from the outset, you need to know that this book isn’t (directly) related to cycle touring. Alongside that, you need to understand that The Book Of Trespass, by Nick Hayes, is probably the most important book in the UK. That’s a very bold claim, but once you read the book (and you really, really … Read more
Most people don’t cycle. That’s simply a statement of fact. Why is this simple fact so important? Because it’s extremely likely that your Op Snap reports will be reviewed by someone who doesn’t cycle, and therefore has no idea how terrifying a close pass can feel. Even if police decide to act against the driver, … Read more
When Mike Carter was cycling to work in London, following the bank of the Thames, he had a thought. What if he simply kept going, keeping the water to his right? He’d end up cycling to the coast, then follow the coast all around Britain, to eventually end up back in London. From that simple … Read more
Everyone loves a bargain, right? At around £40 for a set of these – front and rear callipers, with an extra set of brake pads thrown in – you certainly will get a bargain, so let’s delve a bit deeper. Like most mechanical disk brakes, these have a piston on one side only. That’s not … Read more
If you’re a parent, you don’t need reminding how expensive kids can be, or how difficult it can be to incorporate healthy activity and adventure into family outings. Fortunately, there are options that won’t break the bank, and if you can get to the start by train, you can save CO2, save on parking, and … Read more
When Mark Beaumont set a new round-the-world cycling record, he managed to get corporate sponsorship to finance his record attempt. One London cycling courier saw that as an affront, and was determined to set a new world record on a self-financed, shoe-string budget. That courier is Julian Sayarer, and Life Cycles is the book that … Read more
Let me start off by saying that overall, the Strawberry Line has the potential to be phenomenally good, and the people behind it have achieved so much, with limited resources. The Strawberry Line, in case you didn’t know, is a (mostly) traffic-free route linking Yatton with Cheddar. There are aspirations to link it up with … Read more