The Cycling Diaries

The VanThe blog has returned, but we are no longer cyclotouring, cyclogîting, cyclohoteling (delete as appropriate) - we are cyclovaning whatever you want to call it. I am the man with the van and S is the lady in the van - but not looking at all like Maggie Smith. And the plan with the … Continue reading The Bongo Tour 2018: 1

One of the advantages of living in Plymouth is the ease of access to the ferry to France. At the merest whim, S and I can throw a few items of clothing into panniers, freewheel down to the ferry-port, buy a ticket and, 6 hours later, we will be munching on a plât de fruits … Continue reading Bretagne en Velo 2017

Last day on the bike today, which was just as well because there was nothing left in the tank. Legs were hurting, bum was hurting, feet were hurting; so S has sourced some alternative beachwear for our day off tomorrow . . . . . . Yes, you neard correctly, Greg has allowed us a … Continue reading Spring training 7

Two days, two climbs. Yesterday, Greg upped the pain on the two 'recovering' cyclists - me and S - and took us up the 8 km climb from Caimari to Lluc. My Spanish is very thin, but I now know that Lluc is pronounced Yook and, by extension and much more importantly, the beer Estrella … Continue reading Spring training 5 & 6

It's easy to forget the day/time/century when on holiday. But we are in a catholic country and Easter is around the corner so, conditioned by school assembly and forced Sunday school attendance of yesteryear, we stopped in the local 15th century church for a look around - well, actually to use the toilets . . … Continue reading Spring training 4

Mountain biking is a variation of the sport of cycling which involves the use of specially reinforced frames with suspension forks, big tyres with nobbly bits, a helmet with a peak on the front; and in this case shaved legs are optional. However, Greg has invented a new variation whereby the carbon framed road bike … Continue reading Spring training 3

Another day in the sun, another day on the bike, another day hanging off the back - now I know what Brian feels like . . .Today we cycled up to the lovely cove of Cala Sant Vincenç where we stopped for a lazy repast of the filled buns robbed from the breakfast bar. Given … Continue reading Spring training 2

Since getting back from Oz, both S and I have both been laid low by a series of recurrent virus type ailments. The upshot of this is that we have done practically ZERO cycling this year. So, it was with some misgivings that we set off to Mallorca for some Easter 'pre-season training', in company … Continue reading Spring training