Wheels for Cyle touring - 700c vs 26 inch - what wheels should you choose for your bike?
Tyre pressures might not seem the most interesting subject but they need to be understood!
As promised, the review of my favourite tent:-) - the Robens Lodge 2 - come and see why...
The Breton Bikes Tent Destruction Derby, or 'What We Look For in a Tent For Your Cycling Holiday'
Here you'll find articles on cycling holidays, and some of my more obscure ventures into journalism. I also write for the internet hi-fi/music site www.tnt-audio.com, and though most of my output for that august publication will be excrutiatingly boring for most normal people, the ones I've chosen here are of more general interest I hope.
All these articles are copyright free so if you would like to lift one, or part of one for your website or newsletter you are more than welcome. Having run newsletters myself I know the problems of finding content sometimes - fear not, just lift what you want. All I ask in exchange is that you place a line such as "Article kindly provided by Geoff Husband whose day job is running cycling holidays in France - see www.bretonbikes.com", and if in a webpage rather than on paper please make that a hot-link. Of course if you have any articles you'd like included here I'd be very happy to get them and will of course give full credit to the author.
The story of our charity ride to the Pyrenees Most of our September led trips have a charity element, but in 2003 all money (not just profits) taken for the tour went to the Charity Intermediate Technology - this and money raised by sponsorship raised over £12,000. Here read my day-by-day diary of the trip.
A Cycling Loop From Roscoff - i week holiday - Many people have asked for help in organising a route for their own cycle holidays looping out from one of the ferryports. This is a lovely, and not-to-difficult week-long tour looping from Roscoff to cover both some of the coast and a taste of the interior of Brittany - it makes a lovely first tour in France - it also gives you an idea of how we set out the instructions for our commercial cycling holiday routes.
For those who don't fancy camping - what follows is a simple hotel based cycling holiday route from Roscoff complete with hotel contact details - google map etc. It too makes a lovely introduction to riding in Brittany
How not to starve on a Breton Bikes trip... Those dedicated Breton Bikers and gourmets, Jennie and Evelyn, give the low-down on eating 'on the road'.
The route we took in Normandy in 1997 In 1997 our September Led Trip followed this route through Normandy. Not guarenteed to be 100% up to date, but little will have changed and it's a lovely two-week route.
Fashion Victims – a rant against bicycle design and it's impact on Breton Bikes...
Choosing a tent - a rather controvercial article on what you should look out for when choosing a tent for your bike tour.
A day of cyclecamping with our kids... - just to prove that we've done it too...
The Rule of Three - how to pack for a cycling holiday...
Self inflating mattresses - snare or illusion?
The wonderful 'Trangia' camping cook-set - how would you cook without it?
Go Cycletour - Just a short article to get you out there:-)
Climbing the Tormalet - The Tormalet is the most famous climb on the Tour de France, but here I explain how to climb it on a touring bike loaded with camping gear:-)
Cyclecamping in France for those doing their vacations themselves! - A quick guide on DIY cyclecamping in France
Robert and Libby Adamson's experiences in Central Brittany
Cycling with our own kids:-) - This is more of a kitlist of the equipment we bought for our own children over the years
Carrying loads - There are many theories on how best to load a touring bike - this is my take on the matter.
A Day in the Mountains - It's hard to pick the best day we've ever had on our bikes, but this currently tops the list.
Steel Frames - why use steel - Right now steel is seen as a real low-end frame material - wrong!
Gears for touring - You need the correct gear ratios to make cycletouring a pleasure - here's a simple guide...
A Cycletouring bike on the Cheap... You can spend a fortune on a top touring bike, or you could do it for pennies...
Hubs for touring - There is a lot of rubbish written about bicycle hubs, here's my opinion:-)
The wonderful YAK Bob trailer - this little trailer opens up many possibilities for the cycletourist.
Touring tool kit - what essential tools are needed for touring.
Reynolds 531 tubing - Reynolds 531 is THE classic tubeset, here's a piece on it's history and sad decline.
Brooks leather saddles - The finest saddles in the world - a pain in the ....
Grub Up - Jennie and Evelyn's guide to eating on one of our cycling holidays.I have in my posession an 1887 copy of the Badminton Library's 'Cycling' book. This is a substancial volume covering all aspects of cycling at that time and is utterly fascinating - both to see the changes that have taken place and the things that have stayed the same. Here are a few short pieces lifted from this age where the Penny Farthing Bicycle was king, where there were no cars and when 'Gentlemen' rode bikes:-)
An Introduction to Cycle Touring...
Safety and first-aid in 1887 - this you MUST read!
Cycle touring in a group, and the CTC
What to pack on a cycletour - in 1887...
Planning a route in the 19th century!
How to survive with basic French!
A little something on eating in Brittany
Childbirth in France - the clue is in the title...
Le Foot! - How I got roped into the local football team...
The Tin Snail - or why I love the 2CV
Remote Rant! - I HATE remote controls...
A sales pitch as to why Brittany is
the place to go on your vacation...
Touring 100 years ago?
Touring tyre test
Test Of Brooks Swift
Two person tent test
Only for families? Test of the Burley
and Thorn child trailers
Test of Orbits "Gold Medal" tourer
Ortlieb Pannier test
Test of the Giant "Tracker" bike
Test of Jack Wolfskin Pocket Hotel tent
Choosing a camera for a cycling vacation
Test of Sachs top end touring groupset
Test of DT hubs
Review of Nick Crane's cycling in europe book...
Test of the Orbit Romany Expedition Tourer
Catching the train - by Sally Laws
Descending for the feint hearted - by Rawdon
O'Connor
Cycletouring in the last century - no families
please note...
Wheelbuilding book review
Brooks leather saddles
See Breton Bikes new venture! For those wanting a place to drive their sportscar...!