In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, we talk to Claire Davies, former diplomat, cyclist and writer. She chats about her journey along LEJOG and her 'end-to-end' cycles around Europe.

"Are you braver than you think? That's the question Claire Davies began asking herself as she cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats, ill-prepared, unsupported and alone. At a mid-life low point, craving space and time to think, or not to think, Claire decided that a long bicycle ride was what she needed. Setting off for Scotland just a few weeks later, on a bike named Trixie, guided by a gadget called Guillaume, she had little idea what she was letting herself in for. It turned out to be a journey not only to better physical fitness and mental health, but also to empowerment and self-discovery, partly through the eyes of the people she met along the way."

In 2020, episode 23 of The Cycling Europe Podcast featured a chat with cyclist and David Bowie fan James Briggs. Inspired by the lyric of his musical hero, David Bowie, James set off on a cycling odyssey from Ibiza... to the Norfolk Broads. At the time he was writing a book about his music-inspired journey and now, five years later, it has just been published. According to the blurb, "Criss-crossing Europe, he visited French chateaux where Bowie recorded, Spanish Olympic stadiums he played, former communist states where his music was banned, and the Berlin Wall he helped topple - all while navigating angry Soviet ballerinas, suspicious village mayors, and an irate Cliff Richard fan." In this episode of the podcast we listen to what James had to say back in 2020 and catch up with him again about what happened next. We also hear from Rob Ainsley who in episode 23 provided his own suggestions for lyric-themed cycling adventures. Will James find inspiration in any of Rob's ideas for his next long-distance cycle?

In this episode of the podcast, Andrew Sykes takes an autumnal short break in the English Lake District. Staying in a camping 'pod' at the National Trust campsite in Eskdale, Andrew sets off on two rides as described in Jack Thurston's Lost Lanes North. 'Still Glides The Stream' takes him on a figure-of-eight loop from Eskdale to Broughton-in-Furness and up the infamous Hard Knott Pass with its 30% incline. 'Mountain High' is a there-and-back roller-coaster of a cycle along Wasdale, to the coast at Seascale and south to Ravenglass before letting the miniature train take the strain on a chilly carriage ride back along Eskdale and the warmth of the pub in Boot.

In this episode of the podcast, Andrew Sykes sets off with Tim Sanders to cycle the length of La Vélo Francette in northern France. After taking a ferry to Cherbourg, the dynamic duo headed east by train to Bayeux before mounting their bikes and continuing on two wheels. At Ouistreham on the Normandy coast they started their journey south along La Vélo Francette, a 600 km route that travels inland to La Rochelle on the French Atlantic coast. Would they arrive in time to catch their trains and ferries home? It's over two hours of cycle-camping adventure (with two hotels thrown in for good measure) interspersed with the music of the incomparable Rob Ainsley. Put your earphones in, sit back and let Andrew and Tim take the cycling strain...

In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, Andrew Sykes and Tim Sanders - both experienced solo cycle tourers - contemplate their upcoming joint cycle tour along La Vélo Francette in France. Does artifical intelligence have all the answers? What advice can Rob Ainsley offer? Plus, Andrew Simons discusses being the skipper of a new Dover-Boulogne ferry service aimed at pedestrians and cyclists.

In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, journalist Steve Silk talks about the journey behind his new book, Go West, a cycling odyssey along the A40 from London to west coast of Wales. We also hear from Australian cyclist Gayle Moore who recounts the story of her two coast-to-coast rides across Ireland and then northern England.

Andrew Sykes heads into the Yorkshire Dales for a few days and this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast sees him travel from Bradford to Skipton, Appletreewick, Grassington and Buckden, via a canal and a couple of steep hills. Much of this episode, however, is given over to other cyclists who have recently contributed to the podcast in the form of a monologue. We hear from Justin Shiels about Welcome To My Garden, Neal Porter about his cycle around the coast of Britain in aid of MND and from Richard and Cath Jeffries about their winter LEJOG...

Jacob Lemanski tells the story of his epic ride around the world, twice, and how it has inspired him to retell the tale in his own series of podcasts as well as in 'ant art'. Keep listening and all will be explained...

Joel Stokoe discusses his experiences of cycling on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus and Steve Cuthbertson recounts the story of his journey from Romania back to his home in southern England in aid of charity.

Sophie Gordon of Cycling UK discusses the development of the organisation's off-road routes including the newest of the eight routes, The Marcher Castles Way.