France provides cycling enthusiasts with a unique blend of historical and natural experiences. These routes allow cyclists to explore ancient landmarks while enjoying breathtaking landscapes. Discover the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of France on two wheels.

As I packed up the tent at Gotthard Camping, I had some decisions to make. A helicopter hovered above the campsite picking up metal girders from an adjacent field and flying them off into the mount…

I don't often use LinkedIn (mainly because I don't really understand it, which is a lame excuse but there you go...), however I do receieve notifications via email from time to time and one arrived a couple of days ago that caught my eye. Why? Well, something in the pictures seemed familiar... The notification came in the form of an invite to follow an organisations called Cyclo Camp. A French outfit based in La Rochelle. Initially I thought they were a campsite themselves but no, they weren't. I clicked through to their website and started reading...

In this episode of the podcast, Andrew Sykes takes an autumnal short break in the English Lake District. Staying in a camping ‘pod’ at the National Trust campsite in Eskdale, Andrew sets off on two rides as described in Jack Thurston’s Lost Lanes North. ‘Still Glides The Stream’ takes him on a figure-of-eight loop from Eskdale to Broughton-in-Furness and up the infamous Hard Knott Pass with its 30% incline. ‘Mountain High’ is a there-and-back roller-coaster of a cycle along Wasdale, to the coast at Seascale and south to Ravenglass before letting the miniature train take the strain on a chilly carriage ride back along Eskdale and the warmth of the pub in Boot.

If yesterday was spectacular, today was fun. Lots of speedy riding along up-down twisty roads, multiple pit stops for coffee, vegan cake, hot chocolate with marshmallows, Kendall mint cake and a couple of beers back in the Boot Inn. Not forgetting a train ride ‘home’ from Ravenglass. I was following another of Jack Thurston’s Lost Lanes North routes - number 3 - ‘Mountains High’ - but the title is somewhat deceptive. There was less than half as much climbing as yesterday’s jaunt south then north and nothing like the 30% incline of the Hard Knott Pass.

What a ride! Everything seemed to come together in perfect linemen’s for this first ride of my short break in Eskdale. The campsite is magnificent, the weather almost perfect for mid-October (no rain, no wind and, if not hot, certainly not cold), the route - Jack Thurston’s ‘Still Glides The Stream’, cycle number 2 in his highly recommended Lost Lanes North book - a mixture of challenging climbs and gentle valley saunters, and the landscape… well, this in the Lake District but even the high bar of Cumbria can seldom be surpassed more than by this remote south-western corner of the National Park. 

To Eskdale. Get it? Anyway, the burgers of the Together Learning Trust (my employers) have given their staff a day off. Yippee! As I’m now working only Tuesday to Friday, I have a four-day weekend and am hoping to make the most of the opportunity by ‘eskaping’ to the western Lakes. And here I am, in the pub in Boot.

The cycling industry is experiencing a technological renaissance, with electric bikes leading the charge in innovation and performance. As professional cycling continues to embrace cutting-edge materials and advanced engineering, the e-bike segment is pushing boundaries with revolutionary designs that rival traditional racing bikes in both aesthetics and functionality.

When we think about mountain biking gear, the helmet and gloves immediately come to mind. Yet, one crucial element often escapes our attention: protecting our eyes. Between dusty trails that blind us, sneaky branches appearing out of nowhere, and mud splatters turning our vision into a muddy kaleidoscope, our eyes endure a constant bombardment on every ride.

In this episode of the podcast, Andrew Sykes sets off with Tim Sanders to cycle the length of La Vélo Francette in norther France. After taking a ferry to Cherbourg, the dynamic duo headed east by train to Bayeux before mounting their bikes and continuing on two wheels. At Ouistreham on the Normandy coast they started their journey south along La Vélo Francette, a 600 km route that travels inland to La Rochelle on the French Atlantic coast. Would they arrive in time to catch their trains and ferries home? It’s over two hours of cycle-camping adventure (with two hotels thrown in for good measure) interspersed with the music of the incomparable Rob Ainsley. Put your earphones it, sit back and let Andrew and Tim take the cycling strain…

Before setting off to France to cycle the length of La Vélo Francette from Ouistreham to La Rochelle, I posted a few pieces to the website about my plans. In two key ways this cycle was going to be a little different. Firstly, I was cycling with someone else. All of my previous tours have been done solo with just the occasional day or few hours spent cycling with another cyclist. The other aspect of this tour that was different was that I didn't post updates to CyclingEurope.org as I have done in the past. Cycling with someone else made this difficult; I simply didn't seem to have the time to do so. I did post a few pictures to Instagram (@CyclingEurope) which in turn were posted to the Facebook pages but there was no detailed description of what had happened each day.

Cycle touring offers more than just a ride; it is a journey marked by unexpected turns, breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable memories. While you may capture snapshots with your camera or phone, they don’t always give the whole story. Continue reading to understand the benefits of turning those memories into a stunning photo book you can share and treasure.

In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, Andrew Sykes and Tim Sanders – both experienced solo cycle tourers – contemplate their upcoming joint cycle tour along La Vélo Francette in France. Does artifical intelligence have all the answers? What advice can Rob Ainsley offer? Plus, Andrew Simons discusses being the skipper of a new Dover-Boulogne ferry service aimed at pedestrians and cyclists.

Embarking on an adventure where efficiency meets breathtaking scenery, cyclists can find direct bus services from Geneva to the Alps, ensuring a seamless journey. This guide provides practical tips and insights for optimising your trip as you prepare for the ride of a lifetime.

I didn't set out with the intention of cycling very far; just a short trip down the valley to Brighouse, along the Spen Valley Greenway and perhaps pay a visit to the new market in the centre of Bradford. Well, I did all that... but kept going. By later in the afternoon, via several coffee stops, I had clocked up nearly 103 km in what turned out to be a long Tour de West Yorkshire. Admittedly most of it was along familiar routes although not all. Some sections seemed familiar; the long climb out of Keighly for example, which I'm sure I've cycled before... but in the opposite (easier) direction. For a county that most in the country probably percieve as an urban post-industrial sprawl, it's much more green and pleasant than dark and satantic. Full details below.

It might be worth reading the previous posts first. Done that? The Tyre Glider arrived yesterday. Here’s the official video explaining all… LATEST CYCLING EUROPE POSTS: Subscribe to the Cycling Europe YouTube Channel Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda, was published in May 2024 and recounts Andrew P. Sykes' journey around France, into the Alps and down the Rhine in the summer of 2022. It is available as a paperback and as and eBook from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com (and other international Amazon sites). The paperback is also available from…

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the new bike. The Ribble CGR Ti Enthusiast is a dream machine to cycle and it has reinvigorated my desire to head out for day rides. So far I've ventured out in the Lake District, the western Yorkshire Dales, down the Calder Valley a couple of times and on long loops from home on several occasions. Later this week I have plans to head south to Nostell Priory, park up and go explore the surrounding countryside with a friend. However, the puctures have been frustrating...

I've mentioned in recent posts that I have a cycle trip planned for the summer of 2025. On August 11th I drive down to Somerset with Wanda (my Koga WorldTraveller bike) to meet up with Tim Sanders, friend from the Cycle Touring Festival, and the following day we take the ferry from Poole to Cherbourg. After a couple of days cycling along the Normandy coast we will arrive at Ouistreham and set off cycling south along La Vélo Francette in the direction of La Rochelle, camping as we go.

I do like the spring and early summer. Springwatch on the TV, then Wimbledon and shortly thereafter the end of the academic year beckons. It's the season-stradelling period when life gets exciting once again, mainly because you can start looking forward to things that will be happenning over the course of the next few months. If you are a working cycle tourist (and by that I mean a cycle tourist who is still working rather than one who earns their living from cycle touring - I'm certainly still the former, not the latter!) that usually means going off somewhere on your bike.

When I was in The Lakes last weekend, I popped into Ghyllside Cycles in Ambleside for a browse and a chat. It's one of those bikes shops crammed full of good stuff. You could spend an absolute fortune in the place but, regrettably, I walked out empty handed. If you read my post here on CyclingEurope.org, the subsequent day I had a puncture and should really have bought the equipment I needed to repair said puncture when I had the chance. What a palaver that was... Aside from a pump, some inner tubes with the correct valve, a set of tyre levers that hadn't perished and some patches (all the stuff that I subsequently needed but didn't have on me), I spotted a nice Crane Bell that was designed for use on drop handlebars. But at £37 I'd have been mad to buy it. Wouldn't I?

Pedaling through Bordeaux’s vineyard-draped hills can make you so free. That’s because the region’s quiet, especially when you’re cycling trails wind past rows of Cabernet and Merlot. You’ll certainly sense the air humming with earth and grape. For bike travelers and wine-curious adventurers, though, a wine-tasting getaway in Bordeaux is quite thrilling. It gives you a chance to experience the rich culture. From Saint-Émilion’s cobbled charm to the Médoc’s coastal routes, you’ll get to see it all. So, there's a lot to explore and mind you; you'll get to unlock the soul of this wine-soaked landscape during your exploration.

Yesterday was a blissful day on the bike. The new Ribble performed to perfection, the ride was challenging, the scenery was stunning, the weather played ball, I loved the National Trust pod where I was staying and I finished the day with a couple of beers and my favourite 'on tour' meal.

A memorable summer solstice. I was up early. (I always am.) Beautiful morning. Coffee brewed, I drove into Ambleside for the ParkRun. A friendly affair with far more ‘tourists’ than your average ParkRun. I chatted to a few others and then we were off! A creditable 25:42, only 11 seconds off my Huddersfield Greenhead Park PB. But you didn’t come here because you’re a fan of running. Let’s get to the cycling… In yesterday’s post I listed a few things that had made 2025 a year of change. I forgot to mention the bib shorts.