cyclingstew-blog

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Cycling Colombia - a 1200km cycling adventure (part 1)

Cycling Colombia – a 1200km cycling adventure (part 1)

I had now been living and working in Bogota, Colombia for 4 months (since finishing my world cycle ride) and it was time to crack on with seeing the country by bicycle as I set off on a 2 week and 1200km cycling odyssey through the mountains of Colombia. (If you have ever wondered why Colombian cyclists often win the King of the mountain jersey in 3 week cycle tours then take a look at the size…

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The final leg of my world cycle ride, Venice, Italy

The final leg of my world cycle ride, Venice, Italy

This was the final leg of my year on the bike and 17,000 km cycle through 23 countries and across 4 continents.  That morning when I set off from the village of Va Vi Calle I had a quick 10km ride to Punta Sabbioni Ferry Terminal where I hopefully could catch a boat to Lido Island where I planned to base myself.

This section of the peninsula is set up for tourists and so there was a dedicated…

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The road to Venice, Italy

The road to Venice, Italy

After two months of cycling through the mountains of Europe it was time to descend to the ocean,  and beach hop my along Italy’s beautiful Adriatic coastline towards Venice. (more…)

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Cycling The Julian Alps, Slovenia

Cycling The Julian Alps, Slovenia

For the final time on this trip it was time to put my climbing legs to work as I cycled into the heart of the Julian Alps, and up the amazingly beautiful Soca valley and over Vrsic Pass. (more…)

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Into the mountains, Slovenia

Into the mountains, Slovenia

It was now time to cycle into the fantastic mountains of Slovenia.  Steep passes, amazing rivers, beautiful lakes and a spot of downhill mountain biking awaited. (more…)

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The road to Ljubljana, Slovenia

The road to Ljubljana, Slovenia

Picturesque villages, medieval castles, hundreds of hills, a spot of caving, new friends and even a beer fountain – never a dull moment as I cycled my way to beautiful Ljubljana.  (more…)

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Cycling Austria

Glorious mountains, empty forests and no bears – it was time to get back to basics as I cycled through what was probably my most expensive country so far. (more…)

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Visiting friends in Bratislava and Vienna

Visiting friends in Bratislava and Vienna

Two beautiful capital cities just 60km apart, and with the prospect of long chats with old friends it was going to be a fantastically relaxed week as I became more of a sightseeing tourist than a cyclist. (more…)

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Budapest to Bratislava with Richard and Damian

Budapest to Bratislava with Richard and Damian

It was now time to follow the River Danube from Budapest to Bratislava – 3 days, 300km, and with Richard and Damian along for the ride it was going to be a fantastic adventure. (more…)

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Cycling Lake Balaton

I had a few days to kill before meeting up with my next cycling partners, and decided to cycle 100km to the south of Budapest to visit Lake Balaton, where the world’s largest thermal lake is also located.  This seemed like the ideal destination for a few days of R&R. (more…)

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Cycling Transylvania with Andy and Eoghan

Cycling Transylvania with Andy and Eoghan

An action packed week of fantastic cycling as two friends from England, Andy and Eoghan, joined me to explore the  Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania, Romania. (more…)

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Cycling Romania (with a weekend in Malaysia)

Cycling Romania (with a weekend in Malaysia)

It was nearly time to go and find out if Dracula existed, but first I had a 8500km date to keep with my wife in Malaysia. (more…)

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Cycling the Balkan Mountains

Cycling the Balkan Mountains

Snow storms, long climbs, fast descents, historical towns, 12th century monasteries, a spot of caving and more weird food were just some of the highlights as I cycled my way over the Balkan Mountains. (more…)

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Cycling Bulgaria

It was time to start the final leg of my journey as I flew out of  the Middle East to Eastern Europe.  My ride back to the UK would start in the beautiful city of Sofia in the Balkan Mountains of Bulgaria.  (more…)

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Cycling The United Arab Emirates

Cycling The United Arab Emirates

Cycling the United Arab Emirates would be the last leg of my amazing Middle East adventure, and would see me catch up with many old friends. In the surreal city that is Dubai I would get to do something that I would never of thought possible in the middle of a desert. (more…)

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The Border Run, Oman

The Border Run, Oman

My final week of cycling in Oman would see me summit one final insanely steep mountain pass, meet up with my ‘virtual’ route guide, attempt to buy a goat, and cycle with a fellow tour cyclist towards the border with the United Arab Emirates. (more…)

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The Road to Jebel Shams, Oman

The Road to Jebel Shams, Oman

Amazing castles, breathtaking views, a visit to historical Nizwa, a train into a cave, and a lung busting cycle ride up Oman’s tallest mountain, to see the Grand Canyon of Arabia, would mark a fantastic week of cycling through the Hijar Mountains. (more…)