Sometimes I like to head off somewhere completely new with my bike and see what the riding is like there. I’ve been cycling in France in each of the previous two years but closer to home there are places like North Wales, Lancashire and Yorkshire where I’d previously never been. We all get bored riding in the same place so it’s good to broaden the horizons every now and again!
Think of the posts below as a sort of cycling tourism and ideas for your next trip somewhere new!
Marchlyn Mawr is another one of those semi-closed road hill climbs in North Wales. Similar to Stwlan Dam, the road is closed to cars but bikes can ride it. I’ve climbed it a couple of times now and love it. I believe it’s the highest point in North Wales you can cycle up to (on …
There are a tonne of cycling climbs in North Wales and Snowdonia. I went to uni up there in Bangor and absolutely love the area. Exploring it by bike gives you a chance to soak up the views going up or down some of the mountain passes. I’ve written about some experiences in the area …
Top 7 cycling climbs in North Wales and Snowdonia Read More »
Cycling in Lisbon We paid a visit to Lisbon for the first time this month as a treat for Hannah’s birthday. As usual, when we’re away (like in Malta) we like to get on a bike tour to see more of the city and some of those less obvious and non-touristy things that locals get …
I’ve managed to ride a bike or go around a couple of F1 circuits so far – including far away ones like Albert Park in Melbourne. The last time I got to ride on Silverstone was in the pre-Strava days (yes, they did exist and no, I’m not that old) back in 2011. Back then …
I rode Paris Roubaix once before in 2013, it was…interesting. I ended up riding a route of my own after puncturing and needing to chop off a corner to catch up. A group of friends suggested riding it again this year and wanting to banish the demons of 5 years ago, I said yes straight …
Recently we headed over to Mallorca and the Sa Calobra climb for a long weekend with 3 days of riding and some Winter sun. We picked a good time as it snowed at home. The temperature in Mallorca crept up gradually to 21 degrees by the last day. By going at the end of January …
I’ve spent the last week having fun in Malta with Hannah, avoiding the winter snow back in the UK. We decided that a bike tour of Gozo, Malta’s second biggest island, was the best way to see things. In a rare occurrence, we would also be mountain biking as in Gozo road bikes aren’t de …
I’ve always enjoyed riding in North Wales, places like Stwlan Dam and most of Snowdonia. Unfortunately this weekend I didn’t get to cover many miles but did get to have a solid go at some favourite climbs, including the Great Orme. This would be my first time in a couple of years. The Great Orme …
The Stwlan Dam climb is on a road closed to cars. We lifted our bikes over the gate and then went through the kissing-gate. The road is used by the odd car from the electricity company but that is the only traffic you will meet. This road leads up to the dam way up in the hills above the village of Tanygrisiau.
I’ve been wanting to have a play on a velodrome for awhile, especially after going to the World Championships last year. I did have some worries however. Riding a bike without brakes removes one safety net and the banking, which always looks massive when you’re not on it. When we got to Derby Velodrome and …