North Island Volcanoes
If I asked you to imagine an iconic volcano then you might come up with Mount Fuji, Mount Etna or possibly Mount Doom. Okay, the last one doesn’t really exist… at least not by that name. The mountain that was … Continued
Outdoor Hong Kong (Part 2)
Back in Hong Kong at the end of November we took our bikes over to Lantau Island and got a nasty shock due to some steep climbs on the road to the Big Buddha. Although we had recently completed the … Continued
Cycling in Japan
The four weeks that we spent this autumn travelling and cycling around Japan were fantastic. It is a fascinating country and offers rides through beautiful countryside on quiet roads. We would have liked to have stayed longer in each place … Continued
Cycling in the Mountains of Taiwan
If you want to find quiet mountain roads in Taiwan, head over to Route 169 in the foothills of Alishan, a famous tourist destination. This is a well surfaced road with steep climbs and spectacular views of mountains, deep river … Continued
Outdoor Hong Kong (Part 1)
I am always amazed at how many great walking, trail running and other outdoor possibilities there are in Hong Kong and how easy it is to get to and from them. In the space of four days in early October … Continued
No Ordinary 3b
How I managed, through gross underestimation of the objective, to make what I thought was going to be easy rock outing turn into something more memorable. We’ve been spending most our time in the Vercors cycling. This has been fantastic; quiet roads, … Continued
Rock Climbing in Switzerland (Practical Information)
Introduction This post provides some information that may be useful for anyone wanting to go to the Wendenstöcke, Signal or Lehn. The main post on my trip there is here: Rock Climbing in Switzerland. Location All these areas are close … Continued
Rock Climbing in Switzerland
The Wendenstöcke (near to Interlaken in Switzerland) is one of the best climbing areas around if you like top quality rock, sustained and technical climbing and leg-shaking exposure (and occasionally run-outs). Any climb there is a memorable experience, and ever since I … Continued
Tour de Mont Blanc (Practical Information)
Introduction Here is some information that may be useful for anyone wanting to do the Tour de Mont Blanc by bicycle. The article on my ride is here: Tour de Mont Blanc. Overnight Stops and Direction The route takes the roads … Continued
Tour de Mont Blanc
This is a fantastic ride, crossing seven alpine passes and covering 330km with just over 8,000m of ascent. I had been inspired by the sportive that does this all in a day, so I set off from St Gervais for … Continued