Rob McIvor
@rob-mcivor.bsky.social
Read a lot, write a bit; walk a lot, ride a bit. Happiest at altitude. 2x Page Turner finalist, Exeter and JBA longlisted. Cheshire Novel Prize top 100. New novel, “What Goes on Tour”, published May 2026.
Location: Blackheath, London
www.robmcivor.com
Location: Blackheath, London
www.robmcivor.com
So, after 37 years of hard service, this little workhorse has finally succumbed to age and begun distorting lower frequencies 😢.
On the bright side, both Christmas and my birthday are approaching…. 😁
On the bright side, both Christmas and my birthday are approaching…. 😁
November 27, 2025 at 6:38 PM
So, after 37 years of hard service, this little workhorse has finally succumbed to age and begun distorting lower frequencies 😢.
On the bright side, both Christmas and my birthday are approaching…. 😁
On the bright side, both Christmas and my birthday are approaching…. 😁
Ah. Decisions, decisions…
October 28, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Ah. Decisions, decisions…
I know everyone says that first view of the Treasury at Petra is pretty heart-stopping (as it was, just after dawn), but the first sight of the Monastery after the climb of Ad-Deir is not bad either.
October 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I know everyone says that first view of the Treasury at Petra is pretty heart-stopping (as it was, just after dawn), but the first sight of the Monastery after the climb of Ad-Deir is not bad either.
Open air bookstore - Amman style 😁
October 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Open air bookstore - Amman style 😁
And finally, the unofficial end point for the Grand Tour of the Alps - the Cafe du Cyclistes in Nice Harbour. Lot of interest from other customers in my 30yo Dawes Galaxy - especially when they pick it up with the panniers attached!
September 17, 2025 at 12:14 PM
And finally, the unofficial end point for the Grand Tour of the Alps - the Cafe du Cyclistes in Nice Harbour. Lot of interest from other customers in my 30yo Dawes Galaxy - especially when they pick it up with the panniers attached!
Four years ago today I was crossing the border on my LE-JoG jaunt. Tonight, I’m about 18 miles from Nice, near the end of my tour of the Alps. What should I start planning next?
September 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Four years ago today I was crossing the border on my LE-JoG jaunt. Tonight, I’m about 18 miles from Nice, near the end of my tour of the Alps. What should I start planning next?
À long slog upwards but the views from the summit of the Cime de la Bonette and on the ways up and down made it worthwhile. Hopefully a couple of easier days ahead now, en route to Nice.
September 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
À long slog upwards but the views from the summit of the Cime de la Bonette and on the ways up and down made it worthwhile. Hopefully a couple of easier days ahead now, en route to Nice.
Good climb of the Col de L’Izoard from Briancon- first time from that direction for me - but where is the sunshine? Really chilly going downhill in this weather 😬
September 13, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Good climb of the Col de L’Izoard from Briancon- first time from that direction for me - but where is the sunshine? Really chilly going downhill in this weather 😬
Very satisfying climb of the Col de Galibier today. Possibly the most enjoyable of the tour so far. Followed it with a fast drop to the Col de Lauteret and à long lunch in the cafe. Last time I was there I was mending the 3rd of my punctures on the Etape du Tour 🙁
September 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Very satisfying climb of the Col de Galibier today. Possibly the most enjoyable of the tour so far. Followed it with a fast drop to the Col de Lauteret and à long lunch in the cafe. Last time I was there I was mending the 3rd of my punctures on the Etape du Tour 🙁
Happily, the rain eased off but it was a vicious climb and bl—dy cold at the summit. Even with gloves, I bottled it on the descent, barely reaching 40mph - hands too cold for hard braking at the hairpins so lots of squeezing instead
September 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Happily, the rain eased off but it was a vicious climb and bl—dy cold at the summit. Even with gloves, I bottled it on the descent, barely reaching 40mph - hands too cold for hard braking at the hairpins so lots of squeezing instead
Oh dear. Heading over the Col de l’Iseran (2674 metres) today and the weather is looking GRIM 🙁
September 9, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Oh dear. Heading over the Col de l’Iseran (2674 metres) today and the weather is looking GRIM 🙁
When you take a photo of your bike near the top of a climb and get photobombed by Mont Blanc!
September 7, 2025 at 1:50 PM
When you take a photo of your bike near the top of a climb and get photobombed by Mont Blanc!
Sunday flea market in Flumet. Seems like the whole town is either buying or selling.
September 7, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Sunday flea market in Flumet. Seems like the whole town is either buying or selling.
Looking windswept at the summit of the Col d’Aravis - and I haven’t even begun the descent yet!
September 7, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Looking windswept at the summit of the Col d’Aravis - and I haven’t even begun the descent yet!
If you’re going to have a fortifying coffee before starting the Grand Tour of the Alps, you could do a lot worse than Thonon-les-Bains, with its dozens of cafes 👍☕️
September 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM
If you’re going to have a fortifying coffee before starting the Grand Tour of the Alps, you could do a lot worse than Thonon-les-Bains, with its dozens of cafes 👍☕️
Off to France and Switzerland on the bike tomorrow. Can I safely wear this jersey or will the civilised folks over there assume I’m one of the Farage-Robinson hate-stirrers?
September 1, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Off to France and Switzerland on the bike tomorrow. Can I safely wear this jersey or will the civilised folks over there assume I’m one of the Farage-Robinson hate-stirrers?
My pal here has been accompanying me on my little bike trips (plus a stroll up Kilimanjaro) for more than 20 years. Hope he’s in the mood for another adventure - the high mountains are calling…
August 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
My pal here has been accompanying me on my little bike trips (plus a stroll up Kilimanjaro) for more than 20 years. Hope he’s in the mood for another adventure - the high mountains are calling…
Cracking overnight ride from London - now anticipating a blistering descent into Brighton for breakfast
July 26, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Cracking overnight ride from London - now anticipating a blistering descent into Brighton for breakfast
Rather unexpected road closure in #Blackheath today. Somehow, just missed the car and the house opposite.
May 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Rather unexpected road closure in #Blackheath today. Somehow, just missed the car and the house opposite.
Very sad that nowadays there is nowhere to cross the Thames east of Woolwich except in a car. No reason why the QE2 Bridge couldn’t have included a pedestrian and cycle path.
May 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Very sad that nowadays there is nowhere to cross the Thames east of Woolwich except in a car. No reason why the QE2 Bridge couldn’t have included a pedestrian and cycle path.
At the end of the #londonloop, 150-ish miles walked over 9 stages. The end is a bit of a let down - not even a sign - but it’s been great seeing parts of outer London I’d never have thought to visit. What next, though?
April 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
At the end of the #londonloop, 150-ish miles walked over 9 stages. The end is a bit of a let down - not even a sign - but it’s been great seeing parts of outer London I’d never have thought to visit. What next, though?
#londonloop on the Thames near Purfleet - strange concrete barges, WW2 relics used as flood defences in 1953.
April 25, 2025 at 5:13 PM
#londonloop on the Thames near Purfleet - strange concrete barges, WW2 relics used as flood defences in 1953.
Walking the final stages of the #londonloop. Back by the Thames again, on the north bank near Rainham. It’s a very different river here compared with when I last encountered it on this walk - crossing Kew Bridge! @ldnloop-capring.bsky.social
April 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Walking the final stages of the #londonloop. Back by the Thames again, on the north bank near Rainham. It’s a very different river here compared with when I last encountered it on this walk - crossing Kew Bridge! @ldnloop-capring.bsky.social
The view westwards from the easternmost point on the @ldnloop-capring.bsky.social walk. Honestly, you can just about see Canary Wharf on the horizon 😁
April 25, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The view westwards from the easternmost point on the @ldnloop-capring.bsky.social walk. Honestly, you can just about see Canary Wharf on the horizon 😁