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Posts - WillCycle - Page 2

Forest of Dean Colliers Trail

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Forest of Dean Colliers Trail cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Forest of Dean lies on the edge of the border between England and Wales, and is stunningly beautiful. There are many cycle routes in the forest, but this one is particularly family-friendly, and is entirely traffic-free along its 6.6 mile length. As a there-and-back, ... Read more

Book review – How To Cycle Canada The Wrong Way

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How To Cycle Canada The Wrong Way - by Lorraine Lambert
How To Cycle Canada The Wrong Way is a book about cycle touring across Canada, written by Lorraine Lambert, who also has a blog here, and I suggest you go read that. The Wrong Way? Like just about anywhere on earth, Canada has prevailing winds, and those mostly blow from west to east. Lambert cycled ... Read more

Kit Review – Valehowl sleeping mat

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Provisional* overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sleeping mats are not all the same, and the difference in price between entry-level and top-end sleeping mats can be eye-watering. Generally, sleeping mats fall into three categories:1) Inflatable mats,2) Self-inflating mats, and3) Closed-cell foam mats *A provisional rating, as I’ve yet to test this mat in sub-zero conditions. Sleeping mat ... Read more

Use your noodle

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“Use your head” typically is the same as saying “Think it through”, but there’s far more to this. Like any muscle, your brain responds very well to sustained aerobic exercise. Physical exercise for my brain? Yes, absolutely! Look, doing puzzles, like sudoku or similar, is a good workout for your brain, but doing physical exercise ... Read more

Kit Review – Micronew 3 x 9 shifters

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Micronew shifters overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My bike has a 3 x 9 drive. It started out with a double chainring, but as it’s used as a touring bike, I changed to a triple chainring setup. As it happened, I had two older Shimano Sora shifters for dropped bars that I fitted, and it all worked ... Read more

24 must-cycle routes for 2024!

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No matter what kind of cyclist you are, you will love these 24 routes! 24 routes in 12 months obviously averages to two routes per month. Your challenge is to go cycle as many of these as you possibly can. There’s a free cycling cap as prize to the first person who can prove they ... Read more

The Roman Road (Cambridge)

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Roman Road cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ This 12.8 mile route mostly follows the course of an old Roman road, hence the name. Starting in Cambridge, the route is initially on (normally) quiet roads, with a stretch on a segregated cycle path, but soon picks up the actual remains of a Roman road. The route ... Read more

Bliss. On two wheels

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I went on a gentle adventure, with my youngest daughter, and it was so good! Why? Well, to answer that you’ll need to settle in, but it’s worth your time. Multi-modal I’ve long been a fan of taking my bicycle on the train, and that was the plan for this adventure, right from the start. ... Read more

The Middle-aged Cyclist

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Time pauses for nobody, and before you know it – if you’re not already there, or beyond it – you too will be middle-aged. That does have implications for your cycling, but it certainly doesn’t mean it’s the end of your cycling! Over the years, I discovered a few tricks that work for me. Your ... Read more

November Digital Detox Campout

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tent near tree
Right, here’s your mission (and don’t give me any of that “I don’t accept it” nonsense): go camping in November! I don’t care where you go camping, how you get there, or who you’re going with. However, there are rules attached! A digital detox Yup, that very much means no phone usage. Sure, you can ... Read more

Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton

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Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton cycle route runs for 5.6 miles, from Exmouth train station to Budleigh Salterton, mostly along a disused railway line. There is a short on-road section early on in Exmouth, along a 20mph residential road, and from the outskirts of the village ... Read more

Coffee First, Then The World

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Coffee First, Then The World, by Jenny Graham When you read stories by people who cycled around the world, you quickly learn that doing so is an enormous achievement. When it is done solo, it becomes an even bigger achievement. When done as a woman, riding on her own, unsupported, it becomes monumentous. Finally, when ... Read more

Climbing the Grand Colombier – Part 3

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This is the third and final part of Roy Everitt’s adventure, that saw his travel to go cycle up the Grand Colombier – on a laden touring bike. Be sure to first read Part 1 and Part 2. Train to Lyon While I was catching the train to Lyon on Bastille day, three days earlier, ... Read more

Vagabond

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light sea dawn landscape
Vagabond is define as “a person who wanders from place to place without a fixed home”. Traditionally used as a slur, but oh how times have changed! Cycle tourers are vagabonds! It’s true! When you go cycle touring, you’re literally moving from place to place, without a fixed home (while on tour). That’s the very ... Read more

Who wants to be a smelly tramp?

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water drop
There’s an inescapable reality about cycle touring and wild camping: there’s no on-suite bathroom with built-in shower. Personal hygiene is important at any time, but certainly comes to the fore when cycle touring and wild camping. Having said that, there are many things you can do to maintain personal hygiene. Wipes or flannels to the ... Read more

Climbing the Colombier – Part 2

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This is the 2nd part of Roy Everitt’s guest posts about cycling up the Grand Colombier in France, on a laden touring bike. If you missed it, Part 1 is here. Day 2 – To Lyon I slept okay but awoke early again, and went for a stroll to find a patisserie for breakfast pastries ... Read more

Climbing the Grand Colombier

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A guest post by Roy Everitt This is the first in a three-part series by Roy, telling the story of when he climbed the Grand Colombier, on a laden touring bike! A Chance to Climb the Grand Colombier A quick bit of background: most of my bigger trips are with my brother-in-law and a few ... Read more

Get lost!

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brown wooden arrow signed
In the English-language world, telling someone to get lost is considered an insult. Usually. Let’s change that! When out on a cycling adventure, getting lost can be enormous fun (provided you’re not tied to a tight schedule!) so why not set out to get lost? But what about navigation, maps & more? I have a ... Read more

Kit Review: Fischer 70 lux dynamo headlight

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Overall rating: For anyone who relies on their bike for commuting, utility cycling, or cycle touring, dynamo lights are probably the best upgrade you can make. No more forgetting to charge your lights, or getting stuck after dark, without lights. With dynamo lights, as soon as the wheels start turning, your lights are on. It ... Read more

You are the power

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For years now I’ve been a vocal convert to dynamo lights. After all, why would you say no to never having to worry about charging your lights, and never running out of battery? While there are interesting debates to be had about the advantages and disadvantages of various different dynamo headlights, that’s not what this ... Read more