Cycling Articles Archive

Cycling in France, general cycling, touring, holidays with kids and many more of my ramblings;-)

Here you'll find articles on cycling, touring, equipment, France and some slightly off-the-wall topics, sometimes funny, sometimes serious and frequently opinionated. It's an archive built up over the last 20 years so please bear in mind that when I do things like describing pulling a baby trailer, that was a very long time ago.

 

Read and enjoy and I am always very happy to add contributions from others in order to make the Archive as broad and as worthwhile as possible.

Cycling Article Index

Reviews


Carradice bar-bag - perfect for cycling holidays in France?Dawes Sonoran Hybrid Cycle reviewTouring USB battery review * Touring Bike Brakes review * VSF T50s touring hybrid bike review * Ridgeback Expedition Touring Bikes review * Wheelbuilding book review * Cycling in Europe book review * Orbit Romany touring bike review * DTI Hugi Touring hubs review * Orbit Gold Medal touring bike review * Ortlieb pannier review * Burley and Thorn child trailers review * Brooks Titanium saddle review * Two person Tent test review * Brooks leather saddles review * Yak BOB trailer review * Trangia cooker review * Thermarest problems review * Robens Lodge 2 tent review

Technical


Stiffness in bicyle framesTyres for cycle touring * Reynolds 531 history * 26" vs 700c wheels * Tyre pressures * The technical facts about steel frame tubing * General use of steel in touring framesLadies Frames - why not? * Chain-link extractors overview

General cycle touring advice and guides


Cycling holiday on the Velodyssee * A Guide to E-Bikes - central or hub motors?Go on a cycling holiday – encouragement! * The Breton Bikes Guide to Cycling Holidays in France * Cycling Holidays for Beginners * Cycling holidays for experienced * Touring tyre tread patterns * Why cycle in Brittany * Food and Brittany * Cycling tool kit * Gearing for Cycling holidays * Carrying loads on a cycling holiday * DIY cycle camping holiday guide * How to choose a cycling holiday tent * My anti cycling-fashion rant! * How to climb on a touring bike * Hi Vis - worth it? * Death of the drop handlebar * Things to watch out for in a tent * A Cyclists Toolkit * Cycling with children - guide

Cycling Holiday route ideas


Cycleroutes from Gouarec in central Brittany (France) * Free hotel-based touring route from Roscoff * Free camping based route from Roscoff * Cycle touring up the Ventoux! * Tour de France 2018 in Gouarec * "A day in the mountains" * Climbing the Tormalet

General 'Fun' Articles


Village Football * The 2CV

Cycling a 100+ years ago!


Cycletouring in 1887 * How people planned a cycletour - in 1887! * Cycle Training with freinds - in 1887 * How to pack for a cycletour - in 1887! * Cycling First Aid - In 1887!

And last but not least – the whole saga of.... The Breton Bikes ITG charity ride to the French Pyrenees

 

Latest Cycling Articles

Ridgeback Expedition 26” Touring Bike 2016 Review

 

Cycling Article Index

 

What can the Ridgeback Expedition offer? (Updated for 2017 - see below)

Update

Sadly Ridgeback inform me that for 2017 the Expedition is to be updated with Hydraulic disc brakes. Though lovely to use these aren't a great idea on a true expedition tourer - too easy to damage, difficult to get spares or 'bodge' on tour in Europe let alone outside... - Manufacturers Website

Read more: Ridgeback Expedition 26” Touring Bike 2016 Review

The importance of tread pattern on cycle tyres.

Cycling Article Index

Why do tyres have a tread pattern?

If you go onto the website of any cycle tyre manufacturer you will see a bewildering range of tyres – all sizes, constructions and weight. But the most obvious difference between tyres is the tread pattern which seems to come in all shapes and sizes from massive tread blocks to completely slick, it's no wonder that cyclists looking at this get confused, so the purpose of this article is to try to uncover some of the mysteries of the subject and more importantly to expose some of the misconceptions.

Read more: The importance of tread pattern on cycle tyres.

The 2CV - The tin Snail

Cycling Article Index

Hardly a cycling article, but after all the 2CV is the nearest a car get's to being a bike, and is probably the most French machine on the planet so why not???

The Tin Snail

Read more: The 2CV - The tin Snail

Cycling Holidays for Beginners

 

Cycling Article Index

For a lot of our customers this will be their first ever cycling holiday especially in France, in fact that was one reason Breton Bikes was set up as it is – to encourage people to try something that may get them hooked so that in the future they set off on their own. But there are beginners and 'beginners'...

Read more: Cycling Holidays for Beginners

Cycling Holidays in France for Experienced Cyclists

Cycling Article Index

Regular cyclists read on...

One of our specialities is providing cycling holidays for experienced cycletourists. If that means you then you are probably used to decent equipment, reasonable mileages and don't want to cycle in a group of beginners. On the other hand you don't want the hassle and cost of bringing all your gear to France and then risking the chance of a breakdown writing off a hard-earned holiday. If that's the case then you've come to the right place.

Read more: Cycling Holidays in France for Experienced Cyclists

A taster for what Brittany has to offer for a cycling camping holiday - a week long loop from the Brittany Ferries Port at Roscoff.

Cycling Article Index

What follows is a lovely ride that will take you from the Brittany Ferries port at Roscoff along the North-Brittany coast and though the unspoilt countryside of inland Brittany.

Read more: A taster for what Brittany has to offer for a cycling camping holiday - a week long loop from the...

Up the Ventoux - A Cycling Holiday in France with a Difference;-)

Cycling Article Index

Or - How to arrive at the top of France's most famous cycling peak, whilst carrying all your camping kit...

Read more: Up the Ventoux - A Cycling Holiday in France with a Difference;-)