5.30am this morning and we were off. The start of this year’s bikepacking trip. Today’s goal was Newhaven, ready for tomorrow’s ferry to Dieppe. From there we’ll head up the French coast, into Belgium, across Holland, spend a few days … Continue reading →

Sydney Cycle Trail – A Great Reminder of What’s in Our Own Backyard The Sydney Cycle Trail is a 220km loop around Sydney that links together bike paths, shared paths, quiet roads, parks, waterways and some of the city’s most … Continue reading →

After a week relaxing in Spain, we loaded up the bikes and rode back to Santander to board the ferry—our 30-hour “cruise” to Portsmouth. We docked at 5:30pm and split the ride home with an overnight stop in Alton. Warm … Continue reading →

After three weeks on the road, we rolled into Cóbreces to meet up with my sister, Louise, and my brother-in-law, Robert, for a well-earned week of rest. Another warm day and some sharp climbs meant we were working hard right … Continue reading →

Today, like most days on tour, we woke to warm sunshine. A gentle pedal along the coast got the legs moving before we headed cross-country into Santander. We’re feeling a real sense of satisfaction having completed what we set out … Continue reading →

We departed from Bilbao this morning, enjoying the dedicated bike paths under perfect sunshine. We are still in good form, rejuvenated by the previous day’s rest and a little jazz in the park we stumbled upon after dinner. Our route … Continue reading →

With nowhere to be, we had the whole day to explore. We spent the morning at the Guggenheim Museum, then wandered the streets of Bilbao. A bit of bar hopping and pintxos tasting led perfectly into an afternoon nap. Bliss. … Continue reading →

Today’s ride into Bilbao was all about one thing — the climb up Sollube. A proper Category 2 effort that gave us incredible views and a real sense of accomplishment. The rest of the day was a mix of descents, … Continue reading →

After yesterday’s adventures, today we were in cruise mode. The first 15 km followed a coast road that was made for cycling — smooth tarmac, barely any traffic, and the sea glinting beside us as we weaved through forested hills. … Continue reading →

Our first full day in Spain gave us a nice contrast to France — we climbed over 1,000 metres (that’s about 3,280 feet) across just 61km. Not bad considering all the gear we’re lugging around. A road closure forced a … Continue reading →

Today we crossed the border into Spain. We made it—thanks to some sensible control from Robyn, who made sure we didn’t get swept up in a Biarritz night that was absolutely going off. It was a shorter ride today, but … Continue reading →

After two weeks, over 1,200km, two rest days, and twelve days of cycling, we’ve reached Biarritz — our last night in France. Today’s ride had everything. We started at the beach (though someone had clearly turned off the heat), rolled … Continue reading →

Another gloriously hot, sunny day had us working hard to cover our 100km and arrive in the seaside town of Contis. Nestled along the Atlantic coast, Contis is known for its long sandy beach, relaxed surf vibe, and distinctive lighthouse … Continue reading →

Today was all about rest and relaxation. That said, our bodies are still in “go” mode, so we were out the door by 8:30am. A walk along the beach led to a morning coffee, then into town to check out … Continue reading →

We only had 40km to ride around the bay to our next hotel — where we’ll be for two nights, with another rest day tomorrow. We had a late start after a leisurely breakfast at our B&B, and even squeezed … Continue reading →

We were up early to catch the first ferry across to Le Verdon-surely -Mer and rejoin EuroVelo 1. With 120km ahead of us and not much research , we were a little nervous about what the day might bring. As … Continue reading →

As we roll into our second week on the road, there’s nothing repetitive about this journey. Each day brings new challenges, fresh experiences, and the subtle changes in towns and landscapes along the coast keep us engaged and curious. Our … Continue reading →

Feeling refreshed after a day off, we set out early, only to be overtaken by the local cycling club. Robyn decided she wanted a tow, and since it was a bunch of old fellas, we tucked in behind them for … Continue reading →

No Lycra, no alarms, just the luxury of a slow start. We took care of our Saturday chores this morning: washing, shopping, and a long, lazy lunch. The rest of the day was all about switching off and relaxing. A … Continue reading →

Day 6 was our last ride before a well-earned rest day. As beautiful as the EuroVelo 1 route is, it winds its way through every nook and cranny to show you everything. But when your goal is to get to … Continue reading →

We rode out of Nantes this morning with the city’s bike commuters streaming in from every direction. The bike infrastructure here is incredible — dedicated lanes made it easy to find our way. It took about an hour to work … Continue reading →

After two days and more than 160km along the canal path, it was a bit of a shock to find ourselves detouring through the countryside to reach Nantes, our stop for the night. Thankfully, the route into the city was … Continue reading →

Day 3 took us from Lodeac to Redon along the EuroVelo 1 – the route that will eventually carry us to the Spanish border. We rode most of the the 100 km route along the Brest to Nantes towpath. Mostly … Continue reading →

Day one in France kicked off with an 8:15pm arrival in Saint-Malo and a 110km ride to Loudéac. We followed the estuary south, then stumbled upon the medieval town of Dinan—a nice surprise, since we’ve done almost no planning beyond … Continue reading →

And we’re off! 60km from Bracknell to Petersfield for lunch with Tom, Nelly, Wendy, and Michelle, then another 30km to Portsmouth to catch the ferry. A comfy cabin overnight—and next stop, France!

We’ve arrived in England and kicked things off with a test ride—from Mum and Dad’s place in Bracknell to see Louise and Rob in Harpenden. The ride out was fab: sunshine and trafic free paths along bike route 61. The … Continue reading →

It’s been a long time between posts. We’ve still been getting out on the bikes, still doing a bit of travel, but nothing big or blog-worthy… until now. This June, we’re setting off on a ride from the UK to … Continue reading →

I was a rebellious teenager for about a month, I didn’t work and party hard through my twenties and my thirties were not about fine dining and expensive wines. It has only been in my forties that I have really … Continue reading →

We had a different project to focus on once I got back from France. What a fabulous day we had participating in the Red Bull Flugtag. Robyn was our pilot and flew with style.

The final day. A ride into Paris and past all the major landmarks. Always lots of fun, a time for celebration and a beer or two.  

A quick spin around the time trial course in the rain and then we traveled to Paris ready to ride in tomorrow. The time has flown by and it’s hard to believe that it has also been a year since … Continue reading →

Another big day in the mountains. Rain and mist made for an interesting final climb. Nothing could dampen our spirits knowing that after we completed today there is a short time trial tomorrow and a ride around Paris on Sunday … Continue reading →

Afiter 9 days of hard riding, 170 km of relatively flat countryside becomes a bit of a recovery ride. I spoke to Gary one of the physio’s today. If the mechanics fix the bikes, it’s the physio’s that fix the … Continue reading →

A short stage of 65km but with 3,000 meters of climbing. I had a chat with Deano again, he’s going well. Another great day with stunning views.

A long day with some good climbs. We enter the Pyrenees. I have a chat with Lee and Peter who I have met before and some of the guys they have bought out with them.  

Noun. dilemma. circumstance in which a choice must be made between two alternatives. I have spent the rest day in Carcassonne. A sleep in, a massage and a bit of bike faff was followed by a nice long lunch and a walk … Continue reading →

Six days of riding completed. Today was another spectacular day through some wonderful scenery in the heat. A climb towards the end to keep us on our toes and a World Cup win for France made for an interesting ride … Continue reading →

In the tour guide today’s stage is described as “hilly”. May be a bit of an understatement, scenery was stunning and another testing stage is in the bag. Lots of tired riders who are kept on the road by the … Continue reading →

There were times in the last 3 days when I wondered what I was doing. All of that gets forgotten about when you have days like today. A flat stage through beautiful scenery and a great meal al fresco to … Continue reading →

I have ridden further in a day but never done as much climbing. Our third day in the Alps.

Day 2. I don’t remember last year being this challenging. Maybe it’s the heat, maybe it’s the long taper before I arrived in France. It’s been tough, enjoyable and a huge sense of achievement already with another 10 stages to … Continue reading →

Stage 10 and my first day of this years tour . Straight into the mountains and hard work. It doesn’t matter how many KM you have ridden or how many mountains you have climbed, you still have to get up … Continue reading →

The plan is to vlog each day and to focus on a specific element of Tour Life. To kick us off I spoke to Tom, serial Le Loop offender,  and the person responsible for my cycling affliction.

There appears to be an increasing competition for charitable donations. Maybe social media and today’s connected world gives me more visibility of the good things people are doing, but this wouldn’t explain why the streets of Sydney seem to be filled … Continue reading →

My trip to France is now only a month away and I have been thinking about how to record it. Keeping a blog last year took a lot of discipline but it was well worth it. It is great to … Continue reading →

“The trouble with cycling is that it takes up so much time”. ”I know”, I replied, “isn’t that great”. My bike is my circuit breaker it allows me to get away from whatever is going on in my life. Sitting on … Continue reading →

A client of mine made the wonderful observation that most people seemed to get paid to come to work and talk nonsense all day. He included himself in this observation and I will readily admit that I often pause during … Continue reading →

I found myself stood in front of the breakfast buffet and didn’t know what to do. Last time I was in this position in a European hotel it was simple, eat, eat and eat. This time I am in Italy, not … Continue reading →

We have been home for a while now and on todays ride we were discussing our trip to France. We did a quick video to say thank you to everybody who sposored us, to share our highlights and to look to the future.

There is no bag to pack, no breakfast buffet to consume and no day bags to arrange for the stage ahead. It’s 5am on Sunday morning and I am standing in our kitchen trying to make sense of where I am … Continue reading →

The rhythm of tour life provides you with a very warm security blanket. I haven’t had to think for myself for three weeks. Just follow the instructions, make sure you know when mealtimes are and be ready to ride at … Continue reading →

  Stage 19 was the longest stage of the tour, we rode 236km, and I say we because Robyn’s bike was fixed overnight and she was rearing to go. We rode from Emburn to Salon-de-Provence, from the Alps down to … Continue reading →

Today I climbed the last big mountain of the the tour, the Col d’Isoard, topping out at 2,360 meters. I did it without Robyn, so as enjoyable as it was to get up there, it was actually very unfulfilling. After … Continue reading →

Robyn declared that today was her toughest day on her bike ever! Big call given some of the one day rides she has done but she puts it down to sheer mental fatigue as much as anything. I did ask … Continue reading →

Having the family in town for the rest day certainly burst the tour bubble. Riding long distances day after day with a group becomes a very insular affair. With the benefit of modern technology the outside world is not completely … Continue reading →

The joy of a rest day means we can catch up on everything. Despite the opportunity to have a lie in, we were awake early so we have managed to cobble a vlog together, then it’s a massage, laundry and … Continue reading →

Every morning there is a wonderfull ritual that takes place on tour. Wherever we start from, the bikes are set out for us. You have to wander around and find your bike and get ready to ride it. When the … Continue reading →

Today we rode what will be the shortest stage in tour history. A mere 104 km but we still climed 2,200 meters over 3 category 1 climbs. To put today into perspective a ride like this was a big weekend … Continue reading →

Robyn’s first tour experience was a 218 km ride, climbing 4,464 meters. If you have ever been skiing think about the car or bus trip up to the resort, today we climbed a couple of them and a few other … Continue reading →

My tour changed today. Robyn has arrived to ride the final 10 stages. I spent all of today’s 200km ride looking forward to seeing her. After spending so much time training together to spend the last few weeks apart has … Continue reading →

I still maintain this is a holiday, it is also part endurance challenge and a lesson in time management. We spend all our days riding, it’s what goes on when we are not sat in the saddle that keeps us … Continue reading →

There was a lot of chatter about Stage 9 right from the start of the tour. On paper it looks like the toughest stage of the tour this year. Lots of climbing and roads hitting 22% gradient. We had a … Continue reading →

Most of us on tour have not ridden this far in a week. We have been on tour for 8 days and covered 1,450km. Stage 7 was another tough day. We rode most of the day into a headwind with … Continue reading →

One of the cycling skills that you need to learn to be efficient is drafting. This is when you sit behind another rider in a line, taking turns to take the wind before swapping off to let somebody else share … Continue reading →

At our first feedstop today the chatter and general demeanour was likened to being outside the exam hall. Lots of nervous people, waiting with anticipation for our first real climb of the tour. Had we done enough training, how would we … Continue reading →

Tonight we are staying just outside Vittel. Famous for the water that is supplied around the world. I know this because people have told me. Normally I like to plan, to understand what is ahead of me and to control … Continue reading →

They say an “army marches on its stomach”, well a peloton rides on calories and as many as you can stuff in and as frequently as possible. After breakfast there are four food stops positioned throughout the day, with a … Continue reading →

Hard to believe how quickly time flies, next time Robyn and I will see each other will be in France. I will be halfway through my adventure and she will be starting hers. Final update from Australia…

Our bike riding exploits made it into the local newspaper. Only 16 days until the off!

Monthly training update, less than a month before the Grand Depart. Gulp!  

It seems that I am getting older! I have a birthday on the horizon, I left school 30 years ago, I have lived in Australia for 20 years and Robyn and I have just celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. Having … Continue reading →

Monthly training update, the reality of what we have signed up for is starting to hit home.          

Cycling, as with any hobby, can be seen as a series of firsts. Your first pair of Lycra shorts, the first time you ride with cleats, and your first ride that takes you further than you’d ever imagined. Each of these experiences … Continue reading →

Monthly training update, a big day out in the Victorian Alps.            

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein. I have a list of things that we need to do before we get to France. Last week I booked our flights from … Continue reading →

It doesn’t matter how much money we spend on fancy bikes and fashionable kit, we have to acknowledge that we are just a couple of middle aged folk indulging ourselves. We can try and look the part all we like, … Continue reading →

Monthly Training update, it’s been hot here in Sydney.            

I am not sure if it is a facet of old age, but I do like a bit of routine,  I am a creature of habit. I take great comfort in familiarity. “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” is … Continue reading →

We were in Adelaide for The Tour Down Under and we bumped into a few cycling folk who were happy to have a chat and offer us some advice for our trip around France.

With a population of 280 calling Unagrie a town is a little bit ambitious. This is where Robyn grew up, on a farm in rural NSW. Her mum and dad still live on the same property and we make sure we … Continue reading →

Monthly Training update from yesterdays ride in the “Australian Bush”.            

Training update from yesterdays ride, an early start means we miss all the traffic.            

When we signed up to ride the Tour we decided to tick a few other things off the bucket list. Robyn has always been very creative and as we talked about different fund raising ideas she came up with a beauty. As her … Continue reading →