
78 episodes

The Cycling Europe Podcast Andrew P. Sykes
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- Society & Culture
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4.8 • 47 Ratings
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The wonderful world of cycle touring... from CyclingEurope.org.
From the EuroVelos to round-the-world cyclists, you'll find it all here on The Cycling Europe Podcast.
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Episode 072: Greg Yeoman – Cycling Across Russia In 1993
In 1993, recently graduated student Greg Yeoman set off with his Australian friend Kate Leeming on a cycling expedition of nearly 13,000km, from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. In a journey that is currently impossible, they pedalled across the entire length of post-Soviet Russia, exploring the landscapes and meeting the people as they went. 30 years later, he looks back on his epic adventure.
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Episode 071: Mark Wedgwood – Cycling All The OS Maps
Mark Wedgwood had always been a lover of maps. In 2022, newly liberated from the constraints of a full-time job, he decided to cycle across every Ordnance Survey Landranger map of Britain. He spoke to The Cycling Europe Podcast about the challenge that took him from the northernmost point of Shetland (map 1) to Fowey in Cornwall (map 204)… the long way.
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Episode 070: Crossing Europe On A Bike Called Reggie – Part 1
"The academic year must have been a difficult one as when the summer holidays arrived, secondary school teacher Andrew Sykes was happy to do as little as possible. But while sitting on his sofa watching the exploits of the cyclists at the Great Wall of China at the Beijing Olympics, he realised the error of his ways and resolved to put a bit more adventure into his life. Two years later, accompanied by his faithful companion Reggie (his bike) but only a rudimentary plan, Andrew set off for a trans-continental cycling adventure that would take him along the route of the Via Francigena and the Eurovelo 5 all the way from his home in southern England to Brindisi in the south of Italy. There were highs and lows, rain and shine, joy and despair and they are all recounted here in a light-hearted, brisk style."
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Episode 069: Susan and Ron Crump – Cycling Amsterdam to Athens
In the autumn of 2022, Susan and Ron Crump, a retired couple from Kentucky in the USA set off on their first cycle tour. Instead of dipping their toes in the shallow end of the cycle touring pool, they plunged into the deep end by embarking upon a 3,500km cycle from Amsterdam to Athens. Along with two more experienced cycle touring friends - Pam and Ralph - this is the story of their trip; the preparation, the execution and the aftermath. They may have been jumping for joy upon arrival in Athens but were they jumping for joy throughout the cycle? And has the trip been a springboard for future rides or will their next visit to Europe be on a cruise ship?
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Episode 068: Cycling Bilbao To Athens – Tony Lenihan
Tony Lenihan, a retired policeman, works for his local council in the English Midlands as their ‘Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinator’. He’s also a keen cyclist and, in the early autumn of 2022, after more than 40 years of work, he decided to take a career break and head off on a solo cycling adventure from Bilbao to Athens. It would be a 7-week ferry-hopping Greek odyssey that took him through northern Spain, to the islands of Sardinia and Scilly, across the heel of Italy to Brindisi before sailing the Adriatic to his final destination of Greece. He talked to The Cycling Europe Podcast about his continental experiences… but also about ‘active travel’ in the UK and how the country measures up (or not) to its European neighbours.
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EXTRA: Active Travel – Tony Lenihan
Tony Lenihan is a touring cyclist and in the next full episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast - number 068 - you will hear him talk about a journey he made 'from B to A' - Bilbao to Athens in the early autumn of 2022. The podcast was recorded at the same time as the British Chancellor of the Exchequer (the finance minister) was delivering his annual budget to parliament and the nation. Tony works for a council in the English Midlands and is their 'Sustainable Travel and Wellbeing Coordinator'. Before we spoke about his trip, we took the timely opportunity to discuss his professional interest in cycling; active travel, which has recently seen a large cut in funding in England. I comment in the recording that what we said was worthy of a podcast in itself... so here it is. A little shorter than normal - just 15 minutes - with no introduction etc... Spolier alert: the chancellor didn't announce a U-turn on funding, just £200 million for potholes... The full podcast will be published on YouTube: YouTube.com/@CyclingEuropeYouTube - on 18.3.23 and then across all podcast platforms on 25.3.23.
Customer Reviews
Love it!
Having cycle toured as a kid in the 80’s, and from from Geneve to Rhodes in 2009, this year (2022) I completed the c2c, north Norfolk coast, a four day tour of Holland, and a 500km charity cycle ride through Malawi, Africa. I plan more trips next year, and a big trip at some point. I’ve got the taste for touring and love to listen to this podcast, it takes me right there as I walk the dog in the winter months. Great detail. Love it!
A gem of a podcast!
A thoroughly enjoyable listen full of insight, tips on where to stop off and stay, and it covers the simple joys of slow travel through the villages and towns on two wheels. It’s become my main reference tool in plotting my first cycling journey into France from Roscoff onwards.
Thank you for creating this delightful gem - its pure escapism from the cold and wet weather of wintery Devon. I really appreciate the work you’ve put into each episode, they are lovely storybooks.
Cycle Touring brought to life
Excellent insights and the trip podcasts are great. Professional and provide real ideas for future rides.