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71 miles. 7700 ft of climbing. Strava link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2472029566 The night was wild. I had left the widows open due to the heat and had a restless sleep due to the noise of the wind blowing down from the mountains and whipping up the waters of the lake. What had been a clam lapping of the waters against the shore, softly lulling me to sleep, had turned into a crashing of waves during the night. My kit hanging to dry in the window had been blown to the floor. If I were a suspicious man, I could have taken this...

67 miles. 2800 ft of climbing. Strava link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2472029201 Waiting at the airport for our flight to depart, Justin popped into a newsagent and returned with a cycling magazine. On the cover, a misty photograph of a mountain covered in clouds, two lone cyclists brave the climb up shiny wet looking roads. “Austria’s highest pass,” read the headline. “Get ready for the mighty Grossglockner.” The picture looked awesome, though slightly terrifying. The type of story you would read about sat at home in the warm comfort of your armchair, and dream that one day you might decide to give it...

A short chapter to enlighten the reader on our own particular method of bike packing. I cannot say we are experts, any advice I offer here is wholly my own opinion and has no scientific backup or research. This is how we roll. You may choose to travel differently, take tents and cover less mileage each day, or have support vehicles and take a bit of the stress out of having to carry your own kit. Prior to this trip, I have undertaken two similar trips, 2015 Geneva to Nice and 2017 Venice to Geneva. On both occasions, I have...

Jos “Josby” Busby. Hardcore Cat 4. A supremely likeable and solid character. Young, fresh and good looking with a sharp sense of style, both on and off the bike. A computer technology whizz, the route is locked and loaded into both his phone and cycling computer. Josby is the official navigator on this trip. If he says we go this way, we go this way, no questions. A sensitive, kind and compassionate soul, Josby is someone who is always willing to put others before himself, especially during cycle races. He is an amazingly strong cat 4 rider, who is only...

In February 2017, a few fellow cyclists from the Shutt Ridley Racing Team organised a training trip to Calpe in Spain. A well-known pre-season cycling destination for many cyclists keen to escape the final throws of winter and get a taste of sunshine and warmth. We who were left behind were subjected to a barrage of scenic photos, depicting clear blue skies with tales of leisurely café stops in the Spanish sun. For those of us either not having the funds or the time to spend a week away, I organised a long weekend cycling trip to the Brecon Beacons...