Back in 2012, I heard about the Dunwich Dynamo for the first time. In case you didn’t know, the Dynamo is an all-night bike ride, from London, to a tiny hamlet called Dunwich, in Suffolk. With my kids still being young at the time, there was no chance of me doing that ride, but I … Read more
I’m an unashamed, proud map-geek, and I generally find navigation easy to do. I also provide digital route guides for a growing number of routes. Over the bank holiday weekend at the end of May, I went cycling the Grand Union Canal, along with a friend of mine, Dom (@Tdr1nka on Twitter). I’ve spent considerable … Read more
Want to know what to expect when cycling the Grand Union Canal? Time for a rethink? I’m all for encouraging people to go on bike rides, but in this case I’ll advise you to change your mind. Why? Let me explain… If you went cycling on the Tarka Trail, in gorgeous north Devon, you’d be … Read more
Some ten years or so ago, I was visiting a friend who lived in Warwick, and obviously I took my bike with. He did the neighbourly thing and showed me a local tourist attraction, Hatton Locks. At the time, I knew canals existed, and that people lived on narrowboats, but that’s about as far as … Read more
There’s a huge latent demand for cycling, and a huge demand for cycle touring. However, a latent demand for something is not the same as a huge amount of it actually happening. In the UK, if you’re a new cyclist, you can go on the Let’s Ride site and look for group rides in your … Read more
There’s a lot to be said for package holidays to an all-inclusive resort, though most of what I’d have to say about such holidays wouldn’t be particularly flattering. Oh sure, you don’t have to worry about getting there (other than getting to the airport – more on airports a bit later) and once at the … Read more
I’m offering a guided wild-camping, gravel cycling experience. There are just five places available, so grab yours at just £86 per person, before they sell out. It will be over the weekend of Saturday, 12th of June. Please read the Ts & Cs on the EventBrite event page before buying a ticket, as buying a … Read more
“You’ve been getting increasingly nervous as the sun starts getting lower in the sky, knowing that tonight will be your very first time ever wild-camping, on your own. With a determined expression on your face, you pedal on, relieved that your tired legs will soon get a break from powering your loaded bike up hills, … Read more
It is often said that outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens, so why don’t we set a series of challenges, to see if we can get you out of your comfort zone? The title of this blog is WillCycle, so of course cycling will feature heavily in these challenges. Obviously, you’re free … Read more
After a long day of gorgeous cycling, you had a hearty meal, then settled down in your tent for a well-deserved night’s sleep. But what about your bike? Lying there with wide open eyes all night long is not conducive to good cycle touring, but then again, neither is waking up in the morning to discover … Read more
Adventure is found where you look for it. Don’t believe me? If you live in a city, go exploring locally, taking photos of graffiti that catches your eye.Try to decipher the message the graffiti is attempting to share. Try and identify the signature (called a tag) used by one graffiti artist, then see if you … Read more
The difference between a cycling route and a GOOD cycling route Anyone can design a cycling route, but to design a good route requires a bit of thought. For the purposes of this post, I’ll be focusing on longer, ideally multi-day routes. You cannot design a route without a map. The only question is where that … Read more
This Easter weekend, I went and tested my Somerset Circle route. COVID restrictions remain in place, but as from the 29th of March, effective relaxation of the restrictions meant I could wild camp, without falling foul of those restrictions. My day started early, and I was on the road, cycling the 11 miles to Plymouth … Read more
It’s no secret that Devon and Cornwall are astoundingly beautiful counties. Similar in many ways, yet also quite distinct from each other, with the ever-present Cream Tea War looming in the background. Both counties are full of real people – salt-of-the-earth types – who are friendly and welcoming. Cornwall has a very strong national identity – … Read more
If you looked at an accurate world map, or better yet, a globe, you’ll say that the UK isn’t big at all. In fact, especially when compared to a continent like Africa, you could say the UK is tiny. And you’d be correct. Until you decided to cycle the coastline of the UK. If you … Read more