Book review – Quondam – Travels In A Once World, by John Devoy

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I reviewed many cycle travel books, and like all good cycle travel books, the story isn’t about the cycling. I’d go as far as to say that cycling is only relevant, because it allows you to travel at a human pace. That simply means you experience the world you’re travelling through in a far more ... Read more

GoCycle Expert Guide – Somerset Circle

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A touring bicycle on the Somerset levels, during a cycle tour of the Somerset Circle route
Go  exploring  along  the  gorgeous  Somerset  Circle! The UK has many disused railways, and many of these have been converted into shared paths. In fact, Sustrans’ very first path was the Bristol And Bath Rail Path, which follows the course of an old, disused railway, and forms part of the Somerset Circle. The Camel Trail in ... Read more

Cream Tea Wars

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This post will undoubtedly upset some people, but it’s important that the truth is made known. I would also urge you to read the full post, including the small print at the end. For those unfortunate souls who might not know this, a cream tea is a light refreshment, consisting of a scone, with clotted ... Read more

Santa Ride

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“What’s a Santa Ride?” I hear you ask. Well, gather round, and listen carefully… T’was the night before Christmas… Well, no, it wasn’t. It was many months before Christmas when I realised that being stuck in hospital over Christmas is pretty rubbish, and even more so if you’re a kid. Now, while we can’t wave ... Read more

Back To Basics – How to pack your panniers

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No, this post is not an insult to your intelligence, and I won’t follow it up with “How to pack your suitcase” or “How to pack your groceries into a carrier bag”. Weight As you’ll soon learn, packing panniers is different, for a number of reasons, starting with weight distribution. If riding with just two ... Read more

A car diet

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The  emotional  response  to  any  criticism  of  cars Recently, I caused a bit of a storm on social media. My crime? Simple – I asked why we do not have laws that limit the size (width and length), along with top speed and engine power of cars. Yes, I’m aware there are laws which specify ... Read more

Bikes and trains

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Update: I have a newer post about bikes on trains, covering all railway operators in the UK, and I suggest you go read that. This post is solely to offer a few tips for those who have never taken their bicycle on a train, and is meant to support my cycle routes page, which references ... Read more

Walking back to happiness, woopah, oh yeah, yeah

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You’ve always wanted a bit more adventure in your life, but something’s always held you back. But guess what? I know what that something is, or more accurately, I know who it is. Yes, it’s you! We all hold ourselves back, but usually we’re not comfortable with admitting that, so we come up with a great ... Read more

Book review – Where There’s A Will, by Emily Chappell

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A  breed  apart Ultra-distance cyclists are a breed apart from the rest of us, and are uniformly characterised with an almost grim determination. Emily Chappell is certainly no exception. In common with many (though certainly not all) such riders, Chappell seems to be a remarkably humble human being. Not  your  normal  ultra-distance  book I’ve read ... Read more

You had me at velo…

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Valentine’s Day. Ah, the sweet joys of unbridled romance. Life doesn’t get any better, does it? Well, seeing as you asked, of course it does! You see, you cannot take the person that makes your heart flutter out for a romantic meal, in some little gem of a restaurant, because COVID’s ruined all those plans. You ... Read more

Back To Basics – How to carry luggage on a bike

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There are different reasons for carrying luggage on the bike, ranging from commuting, to shopping and touring. Obviously, cargo bikes are an option, as are trailers, but in this post I want to focus on luggage being carried on a “normal” bike. When I first started cycle commuting, I simply carried a backpack, and indeed, ... Read more

SheCycles – Annie Cohen Kopchovsky

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Cycling, if cycling media, events and companies are to be believed, is a man’s game. Obviously, that perception is absolutely wrong – after all, cycling was central to the emancipation of women – but sadly that’s a perception that persists in so many people’s lives. Susan B Anthony, a suffragette, said it best: “I think it ... Read more

I’m not anti-social – I’m pro-solitude

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I lived decades of my life believing I’m anti-social, that I simply don’t possess the social skills others have. Some of my happiest memories are of me as a kid, in South Africa going off – all on my own –  into the mountains on the edge of town. Just a barefooted boy, having an adventure. Confusingly, ... Read more

Cold-weather camping – a new frontier to me

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I’ve done lots of wild-camping in my life. Interestingly, wild-camping is a term I only learned after moving to the UK. In South Africa wild-camping is what you mean when you say you’re going camping. My wild-camping experiences include only carrying a small daypack, with water and food and almost nothing else, and simply sleeping ... Read more

Book review – Endless Perfect Circles, by Ian Walker

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Dr Ian Walker is quite well known on Cycling Twitter, being an ardent advocate for cycling, and usually being the voice of reason. Though an obviously very intelligent man, the impression Ian Walker mostly creates is that of a humble and kind human being. For reasons I cannot begin to understand, these are strong characteristics ... Read more