Episode 012: Paul Cheese / The Big Record & Jess Odone / Italy To The UK

FromThe Cycling Europe Podcast

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Episode 012: Paul Cheese / The Big Record & Jess Odone / Italy To The UK

FromThe Cycling Europe Podcast

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Length:

41 minutes

Released:

Dec 2, 2019

Format:

Podcast episode

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The Cycling Europe Podcast is back in the UK and heads to Scotland to chat with Paul Cheese, musician and long-distance cyclist. His travels took him on an astonishing journey to almost every nook and cranny of Britain with a bicycle between his legs and a microphone in […]

Released:

Dec 2, 2019

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (85)

The wonderful world of cycle touring... from CyclingEurope.org. From the EuroVelos to round-the-world cyclists, you'll find it all here on The Cycling Europe Podcast.

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Pilot Episode: A sample from the soon-to-be-launched Cycling Europe Podcast. The full podcast which includes reports and interviews from across the world of cycling, adventure and travel is published on September 1st (and every first of the month thereafter!). by The Cycling Europe Podcast
14 min listen
Episode 017: Geraint Rowlands, Owen Peak & Gareth Cadwaladr / Cycling Europe In 12 Years: Epic cycle tours come in many shapes and sizes. Some stretch over many thousands of kilometres, some take in dozens of countries, lots take months, perhaps even years to complete. But few cycle tours take 12 years and still claim to be unfinished. That's what a group of Welsh cyclists have been doing since 2007 since they set off from the port of Holyhead in Anglesey, Wales. The Cycling Europe Podcast spoke to Geraint Rowlands, Owen Peak and Gareth Cadwaladr about their cycle tour of Europe with a difference. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
53 min listen
Episode 002: The Cycle Show, Matej Mohoric / La Vuelta, Brussels / EuroVelo 5, The Ryburn Valley Greenway: The Cycle Show, La Vuelta a Espana (Matej Mohoric, UAE Team Emirates), Brussels (Eurovelo 5), The Ryburn Valley Greenway. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
62 min listen
Episode 000: Does The World Need Another Cycling Podcast?: Does the world need another cycling podcast? We are about to find out… by The Cycling Europe Podcast
2 min listen
Episode 011: Santander, Spain To Porto, Portugal: The Cycling Europe Podcast berths in Santander, Spain for two weeks of adventure across the Iberian Peninsula via Potes, Riaño, León, Puebla de Sanabria, Bragança and Porto to Coimbra in Portugal. Join Andrew P. Sykes as he discovers the cycle path less travelled up and over the remote […] by The Cycling Europe Podcast
20 min listen
Episode 010: The Isle Of Wight: The Cycling Europe Podcast is heading to northern Spain but pauses en route for two days of cycling on the Isle of Wight. Andrew P. Sykes follows the Round-the-Island Cycle Route in an anticlockwise direction before hooking up with the Red Squirrel Trail for a return to Cowes […] by The Cycling Europe Podcast
22 min listen
Episode 005: Tim Moss / With The Sun On Our Right: Around the World with Tim Moss – ‘With The Sun on Our Right’, cycling the National Cycle Network routes 66 and 69 in Yorkshire, and sound effects… by The Cycling Europe Podcast
58 min listen
Episode 003: Ian Street, Barry Godin, Jimmy Hyland & Harry Bunnell / Cycling Films: The cycling film special! The Leeds Bicycle Film Club (Ian Street), Mongolia (Jimmy Hyland), bikepacking & filmmaking (Barry Godin) & the definitive list of the greatest cycling films ever, perhaps (BFI/Harry Bunnell). by The Cycling Europe Podcast
59 min listen
Episode 013: Helen Moat / A Time Of Birds, Anna Hughes / Flight Free 2020, Caroline Burrows / Poetry: The British people have spoken and, by popular demand, The Cycling Europe Podcast returns with episode 013. In this latest audio extravaganza of all things cycling, we head to Matlock in the English Peak District to meet the travel writer and long-distance cyclist Helen Moat. In 2015 she […] by The Cycling Europe Podcast
71 min listen
Episode 009: The Yorkshire Coast: The Cycling Europe Podcast hits the road and heads along the Yorkshire section of the EuroVelo 12, otherwise known as the North Sea Cycle Route, from the iconic Humber Bridge on the southern edge of Britain’s largest county to the coastal treasure that is Whitby. It was a […] by The Cycling Europe Podcast
46 min listen
Episode 008: Buying A New Touring Bike: The Cycling Europe Podcast returns with a new touring bike special. Andrew P. Sykes visits CycleSense in Tadcaster, Yorkshire to pick up his new Koga Signature WorldTraveller bicycle and chats to the owner David Stainthorpe about his purchase. We hear from Koga brand ambassador Alee Denham from the […] by The Cycling Europe Podcast
58 min listen
Episode 001: Tim McKenna / UK To Istanbul, The Calder Valley, CTC Birthday Rides, The Cycle Touring Festival: UK to Istanbul, the Calder Valley of Yorkshire, ‘Along The Med…’, CTC Birthday Rides, Cycle Touring Festival. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
60 min listen
Episode 007: The Yorkshire Dales, Mike Webb / Japan, Mont Ventoux: Cycling the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway (eastern loop) from Malham to Settle and back, travelling in Japan and an interview with Mike Webb of PulpedTravel.com and cycling to the summit of one of the Tour de France’s most iconic climbs: Mont Ventoux. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
65 min listen
Episode 004: JOGLE, The Handlebards, Mercedes Days: Reflections on winter cycling, JOGLE with a twist, cycling motivation, Mercedes days, travelling in Spain and Germany, The HandleBards, the National Cycle Network in Yorkshire. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
54 min listen
Episode 023: Rob Ainsley, David Heywood & James Briggs / Original Cycle Tours: Have you ever struggled to come up with an interesting, different, perhaps even unique idea for a long cycle ride? The Cycling Europe Podcast is coming to your rescue! In this feature-length episode of the podcast recorded on location in the Yorkshire Dales and the English Lake District, Andrew P. Sykes chats with fellow cycling writer and master of the innovative cycle ride Rob Ainsley, Guinness World Record breaker David Haywood and David Bowie fan James Briggs who all reflect upon their inspirational cycle tours with a twist. If this episode of the podcast doesn't get you thinking about your own next ride, nothing will! by The Cycling Europe Podcast
94 min listen
Episode 026: Sarah Mitchell / Cycling UK CEO: In the annus horribilis that has been 2020, cycling has had a relatively good year. When it comes to the number of people cycling, you might even say it’s been an annus mirabilis. An interesting time, then, to start work as the CEO of Britain’s leading cycling organisation, Cycling UK. Channeling the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future, The Cycling Europe Podcast asked Sarah about her background, her new role and her plans for 2021 and beyond. We also go back to the summer of 2020 and a visit to North Berwick in Scotland to talk to outdoors champion Suzanne Forup about some of her favourite places to explore north of the border. Plus: an update about episode 21 of the podcast, dedicated to the travels of the early 20th Century cyclist Maximilian J. St. George... by The Cycling Europe Podcast
58 min listen
Episode 020: Ian Finlay / Cycling Around The World: When I started writing my first book – Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie – I never imagined that it would one day help encourage a man who I’d never met to chuck in his long-term job and start cycling around the World. But apparently it did. That man is Ian Finlay and in this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast he tells us about his journey so far through Europe, Asia and across Australia to New Zealand where, yet again, a certain virus put a spoke in his plans… by The Cycling Europe Podcast
50 min listen
Episode 006: The Cycle Touring Festival 2018, William Manners / Revolution: The Cycle Touring Festival 2018 featuring Stephen Fabes, Libby Bowles, Sophie Esterer and Laura & Tim Moss, taking your bicycle on a train in northern England and William Manners, author of ‘Revolution: How The Bicycle Reinvented Modern Britain’. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
73 min listen
Episode 012: Paul Cheese / The Big Record & Jess Odone / Italy To The UK: The Cycling Europe Podcast is back in the UK and heads to Scotland to chat with Paul Cheese, musician and long-distance cyclist. His travels took him on an astonishing journey to almost every nook and cranny of Britain with a bicycle between his legs and a microphone in […] by The Cycling Europe Podcast
41 min listen
Episode 015: Paul Gentle / Tarifa To Nordkapp Via COVID: Imagine you set off to cross a continent on your bicycle only for a global pandemic to stop you in your tracks. That's what happened to Paul Gentle as he attempted to cycle from Tarifa in Spain to Nordkapp in Norway. The Cycling Europe Podcast spoke to Paul about his plans, his cycle through Spain and France and his race against the clock to get back home to the UK while it was still possible. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
58 min listen
UK Capitals Tour Teaser: An upcoming episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast will tell the full story of my cycling trip around the four capitals of the United Kingdom during the Coronavirus summer of 2020. Here's a short teaser to whet your appetite. It focuses upon the background to the journey and cycling day one from my home in West Yorkshire to Bolton Abbey at the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales. The full podcast telling the whole story of the capital-themed tour will be available later in the autumn. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
9 min listen
Episode 018: Ed Lancaster / EuroVelo: If you are a long-distance cyclist in Europe, it's highly unlikely that you have managed to avoid the EuroVelo network of cycling routes. Created and administered by the European Cyclists' Federation, the 16 routes are a source of support and inspiration not just long-distance cyclists but also those who set off on much shorter trips within Europe. But what is the thinking behind the EuroVelo network? Why was it created? What can you expect if you choose to cycle one of the routes? And where is the network going in the future? All questions that we asked Ed Lancaster of The European Cyclists' Federation, the man in charge of developing and promoting Europe's greenest travel network. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
54 min listen
Episode 014: Timmy Mallett / Utterly Brilliant!: The Cycling Europe Podcast returns with a celebrity interview! Mark Beaumont? Tim Moore? Josie Dew? Not quite… This celebrity not only has surprising long-distance cycling credentials but also some thought-provoking comments to make about the joys of heading off on your bike for a long-distance adventure. His name? […] by The Cycling Europe Podcast
40 min listen
Episode 022: Helen Cook & Susan Doram / Women’s Festival Of Cycling: It may be flatter in The Netherlands but can that really explain why women set off on their bicycles 25-times more often than here in the UK? It seems unlikely. Cycling UK's Women's Festival of Cycling takes place from 11th-31st July. Its aim is to encourage more women to cycle and The Cycling Europe Podcast talks to Cycling UK's Helen Cook about the thinking behind the event and what will be taking place. On July 11th the 4th list of '100 Women in Cycling' will be published by Cycling UK. The podcast speaks to Susan Doram who appeared on the list in 2019 about her cycling journey from the company car to cycling the globe, via much, much more... by The Cycling Europe Podcast
44 min listen
Episode 033: Mat And Harriet Hall – UK To Istanbul / Robin Watkins – Czechia: In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast we are pointing our wheels in the direction of Istanbul. In pre-COVID Europe, Mat and Harriet Hall headed off on their first long-distance cycle tour along the EuroVelo 15 to Switzerland before hooking up with the EuroVelo 6 to Romania and then finally following the EuroVelo 13 to Turkey. They have now turned their adventure into a series of films that document the highs and occasional lows of life on the road. Plus: this month’s monologue comes from Robin Watkins who recounts his travels through the towns and villages of Czechia. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
69 min listen
Episode 019: Abigail Melton & Lilith Cooper / Gears For Queers: It doesn't matter who you happen to be, whether it's Mark Beaumont, Josie Dew, Alastair Humphreys, Fred Bloggs or even (dare I say) Andrew P. Sykes, if you're intent upon embarking on a long-distance cycling adventure of your own, at some point you need to move out of your comfort zone, push the bike out of the garden gate and set off cycling, however uncomfortable that may feel, initially at least. That's what Abigail Melton and Lilith Cooper decided to do and they've just written about their experiences as first-time cycle tourists in a new book called Gears For Queers. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
60 min listen
Episode 025: Ryan Van Duzer / Duzer TV: Duzer TV is a YouTube channel run by 40-something American adventure cyclist Ryan Van Duzer based in Boulder, Colorado on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains of the USA. His videos recount his adventures going back over 10 years in the Americas and beyond. He spoke to The Cycling Europe Podcast about cycling, filmmaking, bears, alcohol, eating termites, his 'mom' and even the Muppets! It's from them that he gets his motto: "I know I drive some people crazy with what seems to be ridiculous optimism, but it has always worked for me.” by The Cycling Europe Podcast
44 min listen
Episode 016: Mark Beaumont / The Man Who Cycled The World: Welcome to this rather special episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast. Since the inception of the podcast in 2017, we’ve featured many people with fascinating stories to tell; people who have cycled across the world, people who have inspired others, people who have displayed their passion for cycling in some extraordinary ways. But the guest on this episode of the podcast eclipses almost all others when it comes to long-distance cycling achievement, Mr Mark Beaumont. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
48 min listen
Episode 021: Maximilian J. St. George / Cycling Europe In 1908: This episode of the podcast is going to be slightly different. Rather than talking to a current cyclist, I’m going to be investigating the life of a cyclist from the past. You’ve probably never heard his name before and you’re even less likely to have heard his story. He was a German-born American called Maximilian J. St. George. His story is told via extracts from his book, Traveling Light or Cycling Europe on Fifty Cents a Day read by the actor Jeremy Walker with contributions from the historian Dr James Stout, the cycling writer Michael Hutchinson and two Romanian long-distance cyclists Lehel Benedek and Elod Keresszegi. It’s an epic take of an epic cycling journey from over 100 years ago by the original Mr. Cycling Europe… by The Cycling Europe Podcast
70 min listen
Episode 043: Monologue Special / Gavin Wood: In 2021 I put out a call for anyone who was interested in recording a short monologue about their experiences of cycling to get in touch and, in the past year, quite a few people have come forward to record such a monologue. In this episode you have a second opportunity to hear Laura Massey-Pugh set out her plans to cycle around the world on a tandem, Laurence Warren tell the story of round-the-world cyclist Colin Martin as well as discuss his experiences of cycling in his adopted home of Austria, Robin Watkins talk about cycling in Czechia, the poet Caroline Burrows reflect lyrically upon her commute to work and Simon Garland recount his experiences of cycling the EuroVelo 15 or the Rhine Cycle Route. We also hear from Gavin Wood in an interview recorded at the time of the COP 26 climate conference. He works in West Yorkshire in the north of England as an active travel advisor and we chatted about the challenges of building infrastructure a by The Cycling Europe Podcast
94 min listen

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Episode 078: Le Grand Tour On A Bike Called Wanda / Andrew P. Sykes: In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, guest presenter Andrew Edwards chats to Andrew P. Sykes about his 2022 cycle around Europe and his new book - Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda - that is published on May 1st 2024. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
72 min listen
Episode 077: Agathe Daudibon / Svetlana & Quentin / Seth Maltzmann: The Cycling Europe Podcast is back and for this first episode of 2024 we have a triple-whammy of cycling-themed chats and stories. The EuroVelo network is now 26 years old but it’s not resting on its laurels. Agathe Daudibon of the European Cyclists’ Federation is the person responsible for looking after the network and developing it further. She talked to the podcast about her background in cycle touring, her role at the ECF and how she sees the future of the pan-European network. Svetlana and Quentin, from Oxford, talk about their experiences of cycling along the coast in Croatia. And Seth provides something that he feels the podcast is missing; how bike tours can “turn into complete disasters”. His certainly have! by The Cycling Europe Podcast
64 min listen
Episode 076: Tim Sanders – The Parenzana Trail / Venice to Munich: Tim Sanders holds the accolade of being one of only two people to have attended every single Cycle Touring Festival since the event first appeared on the calendar in 2015. During this year’s event in Clitheroe he spoke to The Cycling Europe Podcast not only about the joys of the festival but also about a recent cycling journey that took him from the Istrian Peninsula on the Adriatic coast along the Parenzana Trail to Trieste and onwards over the Alps to Munich in southern Germany. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
60 min listen
Episode 075: Craig Fee – Cycling Into The Unknown: In 2017, novice long-distance cyclist Craig Fee set off on a continental odyssey to cycle from London to his friend’s wedding in Florence, Italy. But had he bitten off more than he could chew? In his new book, Cycling Into The Unknown, he tells the story of the journey and in this episode of the podcast, he reflects upon the experience of setting off on a make-it-up-as-you-go cycle across Europe… by The Cycling Europe Podcast
64 min listen
Yorkshire Day Special: Cycling The Way Of The Roses: To celebrate Yorkshire Day 2023, another opportunity to listen to a Yorkshire-themed podcast (albeit one that starts in Lancashire). "Andrew P. Sykes takes The Cycling Europe Podcast out on the cycle path and travels from Morecambe on Lancashire's west coast to the county's historical capital at Lancaster, across the Pennines and through Yorkshire via Settle and Ripon, completing his trip in that county's historical capital at York. The Way of the Roses is a route of contrasting landscapes and, at times, challenging terrain; join Andrew (and his bicycle Wanda) as they spend three days following one of northern England's most popular cycle routes. The music is composed and played by Rob Ainsley. More of Rob’s music can be found on his website e2e.bike." If you'd like to contribute to The Cycling Europe Podcast, please get in touch by emailing podcast@CyclingEurope.org. If you'd like to support the podcast, please visit CyclingEurop by The Cycling Europe Podcast
77 min listen
Episode 074: Cathryn Ramsden / Dale Majors / Gavin McCulloch / Rich Jeffries: Cathryn Ramsden cycled with her husband and son from Calais to Annecy. Dale Majors has cycled with his wife and six young children on several long trips across Europe and in the US. Gavin McCulloch cycled to Moscow from Scotland in 1990. Rich Jeffries was reluctant to cycle across Belgium but loved it! In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast they share their experiences in bite-sized interviews and monologues. How do you persuade a 12-year-old boy to cycle hundreds of kilometres? How do you manage the logistics of travelling as a family group of eight? How do you feed yourself in Russia when the supermarkets are full of beetroot? And how do you overcome the urge to give Belgium a wide birth? by The Cycling Europe Podcast
63 min listen
Episode 073: Leigh Timmis – The Race Of Truth: Disillusioned by life in the post-graduation rat race of the film industry, Leigh Timmis set off on his bike and spent seven years cycling around the world. When he finally returned home to the UK, he didn't reach for his pipe and slippers. Far from it... "In 2018, Leigh Timmis became the fastest person to cycle across Europe – in just 16 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes – breaking the previous world record by an astonishing 8 days and 17 hours. But when he set out to break the record, Leigh wasn’t just trying to conquer the road... Although test results showed that he already had the physical ability of an elite athlete, something was holding him back: his troubled mind... Cycling for 14 hours a day, from the west coast of Portugal to the edge of Siberia, he embarked on far more than just a physical journey. The Race of Truth is the remarkable true story of personal transformation against the clock, and the astonishing feats we can accomplis by The Cycling Europe Podcast
92 min listen
Episode 072: Greg Yeoman – Cycling Across Russia In 1993: In 1993, recently graduated student Greg Yeoman set off with his Australian friend Kate Leeming on a cycling expedition of nearly 13,000km, from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. In a journey that is currently impossible, they pedalled across the entire length of post-Soviet Russia, exploring the landscapes and meeting the people as they went. 30 years later, he looks back on his epic adventure. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
75 min listen
Episode 071: Mark Wedgwood – Cycling All The OS Maps by The Cycling Europe Podcast
69 min listen
Episode 070: Crossing Europe On A Bike Called Reggie – Part 1: "The academic year must have been a difficult one as when the summer holidays arrived, secondary school teacher Andrew Sykes was happy to do as little as possible. But while sitting on his sofa watching the exploits of the cyclists at the Great Wall of China at the Beijing Olympics, he realised the error of his ways and resolved to put a bit more adventure into his life. Two years later, accompanied by his faithful companion Reggie (his bike) but only a rudimentary plan, Andrew set off for a trans-continental cycling adventure that would take him along the route of the Via Francigena and the Eurovelo 5 all the way from his home in southern England to Brindisi in the south of Italy. There were highs and lows, rain and shine, joy and despair and they are all recounted here in a light-hearted, brisk style." by The Cycling Europe Podcast
56 min listen
Episode 069: Susan and Ron Crump – Cycling Amsterdam to Athens: In the autumn of 2022, Susan and Ron Crump, a retired couple from Kentucky in the USA set off on their first cycle tour. Instead of dipping their toes in the shallow end of the cycle touring pool, they plunged into the deep end by embarking upon a 3,500km cycle from Amsterdam to Athens. Along with two more experienced cycle touring friends - Pam and Ralph - this is the story of their trip; the preparation, the execution and the aftermath. They may have been jumping for joy upon arrival in Athens but were they jumping for joy throughout the cycle? And has the trip been a springboard for future rides or will their next visit to Europe be on a cruise ship? by The Cycling Europe Podcast
65 min listen
Episode 068: Cycling Bilbao To Athens – Tony Lenihan: Tony Lenihan, a retired policeman, works for his local council in the English Midlands as their ‘Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinator’. He’s also a keen cyclist and, in the early autumn of 2022, after more than 40 years of work, he decided to take a career break and head off on a solo cycling adventure from Bilbao to Athens. It would be a 7-week ferry-hopping Greek odyssey that took him through northern Spain, to the islands of Sardinia and Scilly, across the heel of Italy to Brindisi before sailing the Adriatic to his final destination of Greece. He talked to The Cycling Europe Podcast about his continental experiences… but also about ‘active travel’ in the UK and how the country measures up (or not) to its European neighbours. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
62 min listen
EXTRA: Active Travel – Tony Lenihan: Tony Lenihan is a touring cyclist and in the next full episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast - number 068 - you will hear him talk about a journey he made 'from B to A' - Bilbao to Athens in the early autumn of 2022. The podcast was recorded at the same time as the British Chancellor of the Exchequer (the finance minister) was delivering his annual budget to parliament and the nation. Tony works for a council in the English Midlands and is their 'Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinator'. Before we spoke about his trip, we took the timely opportunity to discuss his professional interest in cycling; active travel, which has recently seen a large cut in funding in England. I comment in the recording that what we said was worthy of a podcast in itself... so here it is. A little shorter than normal - just 15 minutes - with no introduction etc... Spolier alert: the chancellor didn't announce a U-turn on funding, just £200 million for potholes... The by The Cycling Europe Podcast
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Episode 067: Cycling In Brittany – Tim Boden / Geoff Husband: In June 2022, Tim Boden - an experienced group cyclist - set off on his first solo cycle tour, to Brittany in north-west France. His route took him from the port of Roscoff along the Vélodyssée / EuroVelo 1 to Redon. He then joined French regional route number 42 to follow the coast to Saint-Nazaire before returning to the Vélodyssée for a cycle beside the Loire to Nantes and back to Redon. Here he rejoined the eastern portion of route 42 to cycle north to Saint-Malo. Tim talks about the routes but also the history and culture of this distinctive French region. We also revisit two encounters from episodes 55 & 56 with three French cyclists - Fabian, Julian and Guillaume - and, from Breton Bikes and Camping de Gouarec, Geoff Husband. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
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Episode 066: Cycling On Tenerife: A few months ago I was approached by Jet2 Holidays who asked if I would be interested in discovering the joys of cycling in one of their winter destinations in southern Europe. Of course I said yes and had a look at the map. Where would be nice and warm in the middle of February? The Canary Islands seemed the most likely place to deliver good weather so I arranged to travel to Costa Adeje on the island of Tenerife. I hired a bike and headed along the coast and up the hills… This was a different approach to travelling on two wheels. How did I get on without a tent and four panniers but in a luxury hotel on an unfamiliar bicycle? by The Cycling Europe Podcast
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Episode 065: Matthew Sturgeon – Cycling To Mainland Britain’s Lighthouses: Matthew Sturgeon is an architect and cyclist from Ilkley in Yorkshire and he’s on a mission to visit every one of mainland Britain’s 186 lighthouses. Inspired by his late late wife Angela, who raised £40,000 for cancer research, Matthew is raising money for his A Bit Of A Break charity. It funds visits for cancer patients and their families to holiday properties around the UK. He started collecting his lighthouses with a ride along the Northumbrian coast and has now visited 100. But why lighthouses? What’s his favourite lighthouse? What has been the most disappointing lighthouse? What has been the most difficult to cycle to? And what will be lighthouse number 186? Matthew tells his story to The Cycling Europe Podcast… by The Cycling Europe Podcast
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Episode 064: Laura Massey-Pugh – Around The World On A Tandem: An ever-increasing number of people have cycled around the world. Not many have done it on a tandem. Even fewer have broken a world record in the process. Laura Massey-Pugh was on the back and her husband Stevie was on the front of their custom-made tandem when, in June 2022 they set off from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, destination the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. 175 days later they completed their journey. Before setting off, Laura recorded a short monologue for episode 32 of The Cycling Europe Podcast. Now she returns to tell the full story of what it means to cycle 18,000 miles around the globe. Is it as easy as riding a, err… tandem? by The Cycling Europe Podcast
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Episode 063: Beth Ward – Wales To Istanbul & Drosi Bikes: “Hours, days, weeks and months in the saddle does something funny to your brain. We came back from the trip convinced that cycling was the answer to all of life’s problems and that if we could convince every last one of you to choose a bike not a car, we’d be well on our way to saving the planet. Easy, right?!” Those are the words of Beth Ward who, alongside her partner Robin, cycled from Wales to Istanbul in 2019. As they pedalled an idea grew in their minds to set up a community bike workshop. When they returned home, that’s exactly what they did in Llangollen. Beth has now been included in Cycling UK’s list of 100 women in cycling in 2022. The Cycling Europe Podcast headed down the Dee Valley to investigate… by The Cycling Europe Podcast
53 min listen
Episode 062: Jeremy Wilson – Beryl Burton – ‘Britain’s Greatest Athlete’: Beryl Burton was born in Yorkshire on May 12th 1937. Her upbringing was tough. Her school report described her as a 'stubborn little mule. At the age of 10 she spent 9 months in hospital and doctors told her never to ride a bike uphill. She went on to become one of Britain's greatest ever athletes - of either sex - and a cycling world champion seven times over. She was the country's 'best all-rounder' female cyclist for 25 consecutive years from 1959 to 1983. She died, cycling, a few days short of her 59th birthday in 1996. Jeremy Wilson - chief sports reporter for The Daily Telegraph - has written an awarding-winning book about the life of this cycling enigma who remains little known outside her home county or the world of cycle racing. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
85 min listen
Episode 061: The 1903 Tour De France… On A Brompton: Gareth Dent has a long-term relationship with small-wheeled bicycles. Growing up in Stevenage in the late 1960s he made the most of the town’s futuristic network of cycle routes on his 14” Moulton Mini. 40 years later he rekindled his love for small wheels during an organised folding bike challenge from London to Paris, in the process meeting a group of like-minded enthusiasts. It was with these new friends that , several years later, he started to cycle the route of the 1903 Tour de France, in stages, over 4 years. The interview was recorded in Halifax’s covered market where we also bumped into Tony, the West Yorkshire town’s own proponent of small-wheeled cycling. He had much to say… by The Cycling Europe Podcast
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Episode 060: Cycling The Route of ‘The Wheels Of Chance’ By H.G. Wells: Tristam Newey is a science-fiction writer from Southampton who loves all things sea, air, space.. and cycling. Inspired by H.G.Wells' 1896 comic novel The Wheels of Chance, in July 2022 Tristam set off to retrace the journey of the book's main protagonist, Mr. Hoopdriver - a frustrated draper's assistant from Putney - from London to the south coast of England (and halfway back). As he travelled, he rediscovered the places that H.G. Wells wrote about and recreated the sketches that appeared in the original book. In the words of H.G. Wells himself, "Whoop for freedom and adventure!", by The Cycling Europe Podcast
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Episode 059: Le Grand Tour, Part 8 – The Rhine Cycle Route / EuroVelo 15: The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he concludes his ‘Grand Tour’ cycle around Europe. In this episode of the podcast, after completing his ride along the Via Rhôna / EuroVelo 17 in Andermatt, Switzerland, he sets off to cycle the Rhine from its source high in the Alps to the North Sea at Rotterdam. His journey takes him along the Rhine valley in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, France, Germany and The Netherlands meeting friends and strangers as he pedals. Will the Rhine Cycle Route (EuroVelo 15) live up to its reputation as one of the best cycling routes in Europe? And will he make it back to the Hook of Holland - the place where he started his journey over two months ago - in time for his ferry home to the UK? This is not just a cycle touring story; it’s a race against time! The music is by Rob Ainsley. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
119 min listen
Episode 058: Le Grand Tour, Part 7: The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. In this episode of the podcast he sets off from the Mediterranean resort of Sète and follows the EuroVelo 17 - the Rhône Cycle Route (known as the Via Rhôna in France) - to Andermatt, high in the Swiss Alps. Over 12 days he travels more than 1,000km from sea to source exploring the places and meeting the people as he cycles. The weather doesn’t always make life easy and there will be some challenging cycling along the way. It’s an epic podcast for an epic journey along one of Europe’s most iconic rivers but will he have the energy to climb to the Furka Pass on the final day of his cycle? The music is by Rob Ainsley. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
118 min listen
Episode 057: Le Grand Tour, Part 6: The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. He has now arrived in Bordeaux at the start of the ‘Two Seas’ cycle route - La Véloroute Des Deux Mers - that will take him along the Canal de la Garonne to Toulouse and then the famous Canal du Midi to Sète on the Mediterranean coast. As he cycles he takes time to speak to the people he meets and explore the places he visits. And what will he make of the notorious Canal du Midi towpath that he encounters? by The Cycling Europe Podcast
75 min listen
Episode 056: Le Grand Tour, Part 5: The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. After a day off in Morlaix, Brittany, Andrew sets off cycling south along the EuroVelo 1 - known locally as the Vélodyssée - following a disused railway track and then the Nantes-Brest Canal before continuing along the west coast of France to La Rochelle. He takes time to explore the attractions along the way including the historic town of Josselin and, with the help of a shuttle bus for bicycles over the bridge, the World War II submarine pens in Saint-Nazaire. The music is by Rob Ainsley. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
62 min listen
Episode 055: Le Grand Tour, Part 4: The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. In this fourth part of the ’Grand Tour’ series, we follow Andrew’s progress as he rejoins the Velomaritime near Mont-Saint-Michel and cycles west along the route as far as Morlaix in Brittany. This section of his cycle sees him encounter hills for the first time since leaving Rotterdam - he even experiences his first ’Mercedes moment’ - but he still has plenty of time and energy remaining to explore the places he visits and chat with the people he meets in one of France’s most popular holiday regions. The music is by Rob Ainsley. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
55 min listen
Episode 054: Le Grand Tour, Part 3: The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. In this third part of the ’Grand Tour’ series, Andrew sets off along the Veloscenie cycle route from the historic city of Chartres to its fellow UNESCO World Heritage site at Mont-Saint-Michel. It’s a journey of four days with overnight stops at a dystopian municipal campsite at Nogent-le-Rotrou, Alençon and Domfront-en-Poiraie before his arrival on the north coast. He also takes time to pay a visit to the Musée du Vélo at Villeneuve-en-Perseigne. The music is by Rob Ainsley. by The Cycling Europe Podcast
55 min listen
Episode 053: Le Grand Tour, Part 2: The Cycling Europe Podcast continues to follow Andrew Sykes as he cycles on his ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. In the previous episode, he had travelled through his first country, The Netherlands. In this episode he continues his journey south along the coasts of Belgium and France following the […] by The Cycling Europe Podcast
51 min listen
Episode 052: Le Grand Tour, Part 1: The Cycling Europe Podcast enters a new era with this episode. Not only recorded on tour, this episode has also been edited on tour! Throughout July and August, new episodes of the podcast will be published telling the story of Andrew P. Sykes’ ‘Grand Tour’ through The Netherlands, […] by The Cycling Europe Podcast
43 min listen

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Episode 012: Paul Cheese / The Big Record & Jess Odone / Italy To The UK

Episode 012: Paul Cheese / The Big Record & Jess Odone / Italy To The UK

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