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

Go Cycle! Just a bit of encouragement...

Cycling Article Index

Come on - get out there...

I know it's a worn cliché, but the bicycle is really the 'transport of delight'. Whether commuting, going to the shops or being belted down some road or mountain path, no other machine leaves you closer to the actual feeling of travelling. On a mere 0.07 of a horsepower most of us can beat a 200 horsepower car in town traffic, and a mountainbike will go where no motor trials machine will take you. A 60 year old can easily beat Roger Bannisters time over the mile and downhills are free! (ask any backpacker about this last one…). What a machine, and yet the cycles greatest achievement is the ability to carry loads over long distances and give their riders a great experience at the same time. I'm talking about Cycletouring of course.

Read more: Go Cycle! Just a bit of encouragement...

The wonderful Trangia cooker - review

Cycling Article Index

All our camping customers are supplied with a Trangia cook-set, why do we choose these instead of the various alternatives?

Read more: The wonderful Trangia cooker - review

Ladies' Frames – elegant solution to a problem or blot on the progress of equality for women?

Cycling Article Index

There are a million different types of bikes out there, but one division splits many of those bikes in to two distinct groups – the provision of ladies' and gents' frames.

Read more: Ladies' Frames – elegant solution to a problem or blot on the progress of equality for women?

Cycling Fashion Victims

Cycling Article Index

– a rant against bicycle design and it's impact on Breton Bikes...

Read more: Cycling Fashion Victims

Wheels for Cyletouring - 700c vs 26”

Cycling Article Index

They are all round, but which is best for cycletouring???

Breton Bikes cycling in france Facebook Page

First let me put this article into perspective. Breton Bikes has been offering cycling holidays in France for 29 years now and in that time we've had around 10,000 customers – each riding for a week on a loaded touring bike. For each holiday the average customer will cover around 150 miles (some much more) in their week. A quick bit of calculation then puts the mileage of our fleet at something around 1,750,000 miles, or 70 times round the world.

Read more: Wheels for Cyletouring - 700c vs 26”

Cycling up Hills - the Myth of how they are Hard Work.

Cycling Article Index

Or how to love climbing, how to survive hills and why they are a good thing on a cycling holiday;-)

Read more: Cycling up Hills - the Myth of how they are Hard Work.