The last time I had met anyone on a ´front line´ was in Brixton, London and today I met five riders at what was the Iron Curtain front line at Besenhausen just outside of Göttingen in Central Germany. Where once barbed wire and a death strip split the countryside along ideological lines, now Sunflowers and… Continue Reading
Latest in: tour de energie
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A ride from medieval watchtower to watchtower. These old military sites once protected and controlled the approaches to Göttingen. They are now romantic ruins and peaceful, but in the past, they were often the difference between life or death. Personally, I am grateful to live in a period of peace of which Europe has never… Continue Reading
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For sure we could have gone faster, especially Josh, but that wasn´t the point. We set a pace at which we could talk, be chilled and all rode our bikes as a form of recovery. We began at the velodrome rode across the gravel farm trails into the forest and raced down the available descents.… Continue Reading
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A few vibrant Sunflowers in amongst a host of those past their best is a clear sign that the summer is ending. Although I do not feel the risk that I felt on the open roads of the UK, but today bad German driving was on display especially on the L559 into Jühnde where a… Continue Reading
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A short train ride took us to Witzenhausen the smallest university town in Germany (it has been a seat of learning about agriculture since the 19th century) and is a major place for cherries. A notable resident was Johann Jacob Schweppe, (1740-1821), known for the famous Schweppes brand. It is also the birthplace of the… Continue Reading
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We talked about Yorkshire tea (*mysteriously it came up) and swapped stories about tea and tea drinking habits in ´Gods chosen county´, but didn´t drink any. Instead we concentrated upon drinking German beer, ate German cakes, and rode cool German gravel. A day of good Anglo-Deutsche relations or should I say Bristol-Göttingen relations – Thanks… Continue Reading
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In the time I was forced to stay off my bike because of illness the farm trails and roads which once offered clear views across the landscape now travel through canyons of tall corn crops as ´High as an Elephants Eye´ (Oklahoma) reaching a point of harvest. I rode my road/gravel bike so I could… Continue Reading
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My first ride in August having taken an enforced rest from the bike because of illness. I was under instructions to take it easy and so I limited myself to 20 kilometres of playing in the Hainberg Forest and at Kesterlingroder Feld. I am grateful to be back on the bike and my heart goes… Continue Reading
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There are simply not enough cobbles (Kopfsteinpflaster) in the area to replicate the Paris Roubaix cycle race. What we do have are kilometres of Strade Bianche, then there is Befestigter Waldweg, and in addition there are concrete farm roads all of which criss-cross the area in abundance. On this ride I went scouting for cool… Continue Reading
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A ride with hills to give Tom and Naomi a few ups and downs in contrast to their normal Netherlands terrain over a *Freddie Frinton route which has become one of my favourites. I first met Tom in London over thirty years ago when he was cycle touring and today, we rode with him and… Continue Reading
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This route has become a ´Freddie Frinton*´ one for me, it would seem to be my go-to when I just want to do a road ride on a known course. From the saddle I noted that Sunflowers are out and on route I saw a rare thing – a hedge lined road. (*Freddie Frinton being… Continue Reading
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I thought I had finished scouting All Along the Watchtower but during the Covid-19 lockdown I rethought the ride. The ride will now be spilt into three, one will feature the warte (watchtowers), another three castles and a long ride that will include both warte and castles. Watchtowers and castles tend to be on top… Continue Reading
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A lovely day riding with John Beggs and Andrea where all my recent post-crash demons were able to drain away in a gentle exorcism by bike. John has been riding in the super wet and muddy environs of the Harz Mountains lately and so we took him on roads with great views, dry gravel, except… Continue Reading
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I rode this day over known benign roads to get ´back on the horse´, to eat cake and to make things good in my head, body, and soul. Several days earlier at over 30kph on a farm track my front wheel had hit a rut hidden by long grass which had been carved by a… Continue Reading
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The Strade Bianche ´road’ race follows the white gravel roads of Tuscany and it is one of my favourites. Originally to be held in March and postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic as was the whole calendar. It is now intended that the race will go ahead on August 1 (both women and men). On… Continue Reading
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We crossed the valley and were able to make out our house on the other side. This is a small pleasure upon which a life is built. We spotted a small group of sunflowers in a field, the first of the season although I did not picture them. The ride included Jühnde Castle and then… Continue Reading
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I explored new roads (to me) and photographed sections of gravel for an extended version of the Gutingi Strade Bianche. My aim was to ride a few sections of gravel (7) and mostly road, I had expected a possible heavy rainstorm or two, although this did not come to pass and I would have welcomed… Continue Reading
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When I lived in London, I spent a great deal of time within the built environment and I often found myself in the shade. One of the aspects of my new life in Göttingen is that the sky is open to me and the countryside is accessible being just a few minutes from my front… Continue Reading
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My first ride with Gunnar Fehlau since February because of the Covid pandemic which has kept so many apart. We reprised our usual lunch time spin and we rode in warm sunshine. It would be easy to see this ride and meeting with people such as Gunnar as being ordinary – how wrong you would… Continue Reading
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A relaxed gravel ride for cake! 32km, with a few hills including the Tillyberg at over 28% also known on Strava as UP Zum Kirschberg. The Historic Spinnerei Cafe is open each Sunday from May 1 (and public holidays) into the Summer between 1pm and 6pm. The Ride Garmin Connect: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5123820210 Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/3649574164
