Mastodawn

Day 2 of my lil bike trip in the Ardèche #bikepacking #BikeTooter #AdventureCycling #CycleTouring #france #ardeche

Starting the day up there at the Oberalppass was magic. The early morning light was strong, and the first sun rays over the peaks projected powerful shades everywhere. The way down to Andermatt, on the other side of the pass, was even more impressive than from the clogged train the previous day. I arrived at the starting point of the Gotthard Pass, where the road diverges between it and the Furkapass. I had climbed both some years ago, and closing that track felt a bit like unlocking the region. Then I cycled back on my steps, continuing the descent towards the impressive canyon of Schöllenen, where different bridges jump over each other in a surreal atmosphere. Not far down the road, the will to enjoy more of this amazing landscape took me back to climb. The dam of Göscheneralp as a goal was worth it: glaciers on a sunny day over the lake, mountains everywhere, what else? After impressive pictures and rest, it was finally time to go all the way down to Altdorf first, and later Flüelen. The former allowed for a fast meet-up with the William Tell legend, the second for a well-earned swim in the Lake of Four Cantons, looking magnificent on a beautiful sunny day. After all, it was time to take the train back to the Gotthard line and cross the Alps again, back to Lago Maggiore, reminding me that a day starting in a tent followed by cycling seems so complete that it feels like a full week. Cycling is slow in so many good ways after all.

#Switzerland #oberalppass #goscheneralp #altdorf #fluelen #nature #Alps #mountains #cycling #cyclinglife #cyclingpics #cycletourist #cycletouring

Allysse Riordan Feb 17

Since I'm apparently feeling nostalgic today (and I found a folder of bicycle photos for a blog I never wrote - it was too painful), here is the first and last tour I went on with this beautiful steed I love way more than I'll ever be able to express.

Between the first and second image, only the frame, saddle, rear rack, and handlebars have remained unchanged (and panniers. Ortlieb are great and will fix wear and tear).

I miss pootling about in British lanes so much.

#Bicycle #CycleTouring

Debs | Miles, Maps & Memories Dec 27

It's taken me a while to get round to writing this up. For one thing, it took me a long time to recover from riding it! I'm now starting to plan my 2026 trips though so I wanted to get this one out of the way before I start up the pedals again.

https://noroutemap.co.uk/2025/12/25/riding-the-edge-of-the-atlantic/

#activetravel #solocycling #cycletouring #hebrideanway #ScottishIsland #slowtravel
#outerhebrides

Riding the Edge of the Atlantic

I had always suspected that this stage of my tour around Britain might be a big ask, for me and the bike. I just hadn’t realised that it would turn out to be so challenging, peppered with wrong tur…

No Route Map: Still Learning, Still Looking

Cycling Nomads Oct 28

Part of montañas vacías bikepacking rute in Alto Tajo natural park, Spain. #touring #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling

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Mark Chick Oct 18

On day 11 we planned a slight detour to one of the recommended bike shops. Before that, we happened to pass a bike shop in Renkum and decided to try our luck. In their first box of bits was an Aladdin’s Cave of fasteners, but none suitable. Removing one of the remaining screws in my bag for inspection, he then returned with a second box and emptied it onto the counter. Amongst the sprawled assortment, a very unassuming black screw shone like whatever was in the boot of the car in Pulp Fiction. An exact match. One exact match, to be precise. “Don’t lose it”, he joked. Generously refusing payment, the screw was fitted and the bag repaired. Right then, and still now, this is the Best Bike Shop In The World. Please folks, give Nol Mastbergen Fietsen a try if you’re ever in the area and in need.

https://www.mastbergen.nl/

I left the shop overjoyed. After a quick coffee nearby, I was able to confirm that the appreciation of beer and cake by people who work in bike shops is universal (well, it’s true in the UK and the Netherlands, at least). I hope they enjoyed those well-deserved tokens of thanks.

That was a good day. A good and fortunate day.

Let’s keep looking out for each other out there.

(And checking the screws in our panniers.)

#Cycling #BikeTooter #CycleTouring #BikePacking #Ortlieb #Renkum #Arnhem

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Mark Chick Oct 18

That evening, attempts to find a replacement screw failed. Huge thanks to the manager of the Bever store in Arnhem. Despite having no Ortlieb spare parts, he attempted to find a returned or faulty Ortlieb bag to salvage a screw from, before finding some other local shops he recommended we could try in the morning.

#Cycling #BikeTooter #CycleTouring #BikePacking #Ortlieb #Renkum #Arnhem

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Mark Chick Oct 18

On day 10 to Arnhem, we stopped for a short break at a roadside picnic table. We spotted a couple on bikes heading in the same direction as us. One bike was being cycled. One was being pushed. Between their German and our English no common language was spoken but a flat front tyre was universally understood. They indicated they needed a pump before my quick inspection revealed something big and sharp in the tyre. A gesticulated offer of a repair with one of our inner tubes was accepted and so I set to work. Ah. The bike had a much wider tyre and different valve type, so instead I fixed it for them with a pre-glued patch. A kind offer of a €20 note was politely declined and we headed our separate ways.

(When I came to refit the tyre my heart sank when I noticed it was a Schwalbe Marathon. Thankfully one of the couple we were helping had thumbs of steel and made light, yet forceful, work of getting the tyre back on.)

Arriving at our accommodation in Arnhem (soaked through - shortly after the puncture repair it rained lots), I noticed we had a broken front pannier. Well, more missing a screw than broken. How it had come lose and fallen out is a mystery.

#Cycling #BikeTooter #CycleTouring #BikePacking #Ortlieb #Renkum #Arnhem

Mark Chick Oct 18

A tale of a new bike pump, kindness and some cycling karma.

Before a recent cycle tour of the Netherlands, I decided I should take a more appropriate pump than the mini-pump I have usually taken. On all my previous tours I have not punctured or needed a pump.

On day 1 as we cycled through Noordwijk aan Zee, we were approach by a family from Germany. One of their bikes had a soft front tyre. We helped them out and pumped it up. A satisfying first use of my new pump.

On day 8 it rained. Lots. All day. One kilometer from our accommodation in Zwolle we stopped for a coffee as we were too early to check-in. At the roadside outside the café, a shard of glass introduced itself to my back tyre. In the pouring rain but thankfully under some shelter, and with wet hands slightly warmed by a coffee cup, I unloaded my bike and replaced the inner tube. A second, more self-interested use of my new pump.

#Cycling #BikeTooter #CycleTouring #BikePacking #Ortlieb #Renkum #Arnhem

James Wilmot Oct 13

A beautiful—if somewhat windy—Snowyvale work party.

🪓 Start of my training in proper log-splitting form. Still much to learn.

Cutting and storing all the firewood

Brush cut our way along the property's eastern fence line

🚲 A really nice ride out on Sunday. Exact opposite of the slight suffer-fest of Friday with 500m+ of elevation gain and a headwind.

And just generally a chill time.

#KosciuszkoNationalPark #cycletouring #woodcutting #brushcutting