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 review * Touring 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 frames * Tyres 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 frames * Ladies Frames - why not? * Chain-link extractors overview
General cycle touring advice and guides
A guide on how to fall in love with cycling mountains! * 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
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
Cycling Article Index
– a rant against bicycle design and it's impact on Breton Bikes...
Cycling Article Index
They are all round, but which is best for cycletouring???
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.
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.
Cycling Article Index
Cycling and Hi-Viz – how I became a convert.
Read more: Be safe – Be seen... How not to spoil your cycling holiday.
Cycling Article Index
Or: Why do I see so few cycletourists using 'proper' handlebars.
28 years ago we set up Breton Bikes to offer cycling holidays in France, primarily because we wanted to offer others the same sort of holiday that we'd enjoyed ourselves. Of course that meant using equipment very like we used ourselves and as our own bikes were classic, drop-handlebar'd tourers of course that's what we offered. We also offered some converted mountainbikes (this 28 years ago so pre-hybrid) for those that didn't want the drop-handlebars. Most weeks the Tourers would be the most popular by a small margin.
Read more: Cycling in France - The Death of the Drop Handlebar
Or - 'At last! Something that just does the job'...
Read more: Robens Lodge2 The Perfect Tent For Your Cycling Holiday - review