Some more thoughts on navigation

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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

So you want to cycle the Grand Union Canal?

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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

I can’t change anything! I’m just a single person

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One of the objections you’ll often hear about climate change is “But I’m just one person – nothing I do will make any difference”. You may even have used that excuse yourself, and if you did, you probably believed it, too. Let’s fix that, right here, right now, shall we? You are not just a leaf ... Read more

Grand Union Canal – a bit of an obsession

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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

Back to basics – bicycle pedals

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  Bicycle pedals are ridiculously important, and not important at all, all at the same time. The pedals are the interface through which your feet apply the power needed to propel the bike forward. They’re important, because without pedals, you won’t be going anywhere, and they’re not important, because when done right, you will hardly ... Read more

Food for thought

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Writing about food always feels somewhat uncomfortable to me, as I’m not a foodie. Much like you shouldn’t trust a skinny chef, I suppose you need to be sceptical of taking food advice from me. Well, to a point. You see, sooner or later – especially when touring – you’ll stop caring (or at least ... Read more

Do electric cars dream of saving the world?

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We are painfully slowly heading to the end of the oil era (seriously, if you had any shares in oil companies, which I sincerely hope you don’t, now is the time to dump those shares). Large car manufacturers realise this, which is why you can now buy electric panzerwagons and even electric American “muscle cars”. ... Read more

My bike – a 5-year review of a Genesis CdA

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I used to commute 15 hilly miles each way on a daily basis, on a road bike. 700c x 25 tyres may be light and fast, but they sure aren’t designed to take the knocks that rural Devon lanes offer, especially on a cold, dark, and often wet winter commute. My road bike has rim ... Read more

You got the bike, you got the panniers, now what?

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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

Back to basics: Map reading

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But  which  map  is  best? Get together a random group of cyclists, then ask them which is best – paper maps, or digital maps – then sit back and watch the at times surprisingly heated discussion that follows. Cyclists are often reliant on mapping, or some form of navigation, and it seems everyone has their ... Read more

SheCycles – Anne Ramsey

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In this SheCycles post, I get to introduce you to Anne Ramsey (she’s on Twitter as @anneramsey740 – do follow her). Anne is a regular cycle commuter, who often posts videos of her rides. In case you didn’t know, SheCycles is a series of posts highlighting a range of women, all different, and all awesome ... Read more

It’s the freedom

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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

SheCycles – Helen

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In this SheCycles post, I’d like to introduce you to Helen. Helen is a lifelong Londoner and lover of bikes, swimming and Liverpool FC, and here she talks about her experiences on two wheels. Helen’s on Twitter as @Coshgirl, and you should definitely follow her. In case you didn’t know, SheCycles is a series of ... Read more

WeCycle – a Redlake guided adventure

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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

Solo

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“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