Below is a selection of some of my cycling adventures. It’s not a complete history, just a small selection with the most recent at the top. The further you scroll down, the older the event!
Many have taken place in the USA, but there’s also many others such as: PBP; LEL etc.
There are many more, and doubtless many more to come!
Enjoy!
PBP 2019
Date: April 2024
Location: USA
Event: Empire State Trail
Date: February 2024
Location: Brazil
Event: Sao Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
Date: April/May 2023
Location: Brazil
Event: Sao Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
Date: August 2022
Location: Loughton, Essex, UK
Event: London-Edinburgh-London 1500 km
Date: April 2022
Location: Brazil
Event: Sao Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
Date: December 2021
Location: North-Eastern USA, USA
Event: Washington DC – New York City
Date: February 2020
Location: New York City, USA
Event: City trip
My plane
JKF Airport, New York
Manhattan Skyline, New York
One World Observatory, New York
One World Observatory, New York
Yankee Stadium, New York
Empire State Building, New York
Empire State Building at night, New York
Intrepid Museum, New York
Space Shuttle Enterprise, Intreprid Museum, New York
British Airways Concorde
Date: December 2019
Location: New York City, USA
Event: City trip
My plane
Newark airport
New York Heliport
My chopper
Statue of Liberty
Downtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
NYSE
NYSE Christmas tree
9/11 memorial with World Trade Center behind
Observation deck, 1 WTC
Top of the Rock (day)
Top of the Rock (night)
Empire State Building behind
Corner of 34th Street & 5th Avenue
Empire State Building entrance
86th floor, Empire State Building (Chrysler building behind)
86th floor, Empire State Building (World Trade Center behind)
Daily News Building
Bronx Zoo entrance
Sea Lion, Bronx Zoo
Congo Gorilla forest
Gorilla, Bronx Zoo
Lion
Giraffe’s
Tiger Mount
Brown bears
Dragon
Statue of Liberty
Manhattan at night
Date: October 2019
Location: Arizona, USA
Event: 12-day cycle tour through southwestern USA
My plane
Phoenix, AZ
Psycho hotel, Phoenix, AZ
Cactus near Wickenburg, AZ
Mingus Mountain, near Jerome, AZ
Near Jerome, AZ
Jerome, AZ
Jerome, AZ
Commemorative T-shirt
Just 19-miles to go now!
Grand Canyon entrance sign, AZ
Mather Point overlook, Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ
Black Widow spider near Tusayan, AZ
Dead snake near Seligman, AZ
Route 66, Seligman, AZ
Las Vegas sign, NV
Eiffel Tower, Las Vegas Strip, NV
Date: August 2019
Location: Paris, France
Event: Paris – Brest – Paris 1200 km
4th time on this randonnee! Photo’s courtesy of Maindru. Rider no: A196.
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Date: May 2019
Location: Florida, USA
Event: 10-day cycle tour through the Everglades out of Miami, FL
photos coning soon ……
Date: April 2019
Location: Madeira
Event: Weekend break
Memorial near Canico, Madeira
On the way to Funchal, madeira
Sombre moment: bus crash site, Canico
Flowers at bus crash site, Canico
Bus crash site, Canico
CR statue, Funchal, Madeira
Date: February 2019
Location: New York City, USA
Event: City trip
Obversation deck, One World Observatory
Top of the Rock, Empire State Building behind
Top of Empire State Building, 1 WTC behind
Top of Empire State Building, Chrysler behind
World Trade Center, New York
Strawberry Fields, Central Park, New York
Times Square, Manhattan
Date : October 2018
Location: California, USA
Event: 1-week cycle tour between Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV
I looked forward to this tour for 2 reasons: as well as returning to Los Angeles (1 of my 3 favourite US cities – the others being New York and Miami!), this trip would take me to places I’ve never visited before; such as Death Valley National Park and the famous Las Vegas Strip!
Half-way there!
Half-way there!
Welcome back to LA!
Cajon Pass, CA
Cajon Summit, CA
Adelanto, CA
Mojave Desert, CA
Death Valley, CA
Death Valley, CA
Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas Strip, NV
Las Vegas Strip, NV
Date: May 2018
Location: Florida, USA
Event: 10-day cycle tour through the Everglades and Keys out of Miami, FL
My plane
Miami Airport, FL
Somewhere near Naples, FL
Everglades, FL
Big Hickory Pass, FL
Clock-tower, Fort Myers Beach, FL
Diamondhead Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach, FL
Diamondhead Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach, FL
Southwinds Motel, Key West, FL
7-mile bridge, Marathon, FL
Nearly there!
Date: February 2018
Location: New York City, USA
Event: City trip
My plane
Half-way there!
Half-way there!
Manhattan, New York
Manhattan, New York
Atop the Empire State Building, New York
Atop the Empire State Building, New York
Gorilla Forest, Bronx Zoo, NY
Half-way home!
Date: August 2017
Location: Grenoble, France
Event: Alpe d’ Huez
Bourg d’ Oisans, France
Fort de La Bastille, Grenoble, France
Fort de La Bastille, Grenoble, France
Date: July/August 2017
Location: London, UK
Event: London – Edinburgh – London 1400 km randonnee
This would be the 3rd time on this ride.
Waiting for the start
Heading out with the peloton
2017 LEL, finishers medal
Date: May 2017
Location: Florida, USA
Event: 1-week cycle tour between Orlando & Miami, FL
Another trip to Florida! I decided this year’s trip included a visit to Orlando and the adjacent Disneyworld, a place I hadn’t visited before!
Half-way there
Half-way there
I booked a hotel on International Drive, directly opposite the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye.
Coca-Cola Eye, International Drive, Orlando, FL
Start: Coca-Cola Orlando Eye
Day 1 would see me heading south through Kissimmee.
Kissimmee
Somewhere near Wauchula, FL
Arcadia, FL
Alligator Creek, FL
After some surfing I decided to stay at the Diamondhead Beach Resort.
Diamondhead Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach, FL
Tamiami Trail, near Naples, FL
Penultimate day, Naples, FL
110-miles still to ride
About 100-miles from the beach now!
Last day – beware of the alligators!
About 50-miles to go now!
Everglades Safari Park
Florida Alligator
Florida Alligator
Snake on hwy 41
Dead alligator – obviously been run over
Arrival at Miami Beach
____________________________________________
Date: September 2016.
Location: Western USA.
Event: Route 66
A cycle tour between Amarillo, TX & Los Angeles, CA.
Route 66, Texas
Midpoint, Route 66, Adrian, Texas
Dusk, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Snake near Albuquerque, New Mexico
North of Flagstaff, AZ
South entrance, Grand Canyon, AZ
Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon, AZ
View from Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Rest-stop, Victorville, California
Route 66, Rialto, California
Date: May 2016.
Location: Miami, Florida, USA.
Event: 1-week tour through Florida Keys
It all started back in December when everyone else was out partying and I, as usual, was sat in front of my computer screen pondering over calendar’s; blogs etc, deciding on what to do next year.
A recent PBP as well as another trip to Paris shortly afterwards I decided I would return to the USA in 2016. Winter was unremarkable, and the usual trip to New York passed off without incident. Now with a few 200 km events under my belt I was ready for the off:
For the 1st time after many previous visits to Miami, I managed to find a direct flight from Manchester. This meant an earlier than usual arrival time (about 5:00 pm local time).
My plane
Welcome to Miami, FL
Relaxing before the off, Miami Beach, FL
After a taxi to my hotel (Tropics -well placed on Collins Avenue), I decided it was early enough for a walk on the beach. The following day, well rested and with bike assembled, I headed south for Key West, a distance of about 160-miles!
Heading south into the Keys, FL
I decided I would cover the distance in 2-days, overnighting at a motel near Marathon, a distance of just over 100-miles. I’d ridden as far as Florida City before (about 35-miles south of Miami), but had never before visited the Keys. So after a quick refill of bottles (it wasn’t that hot – about 75f), I was heading into new ground. The bridge over into Key Largo marked the start of the keys:
Key Largo bridge
I was expecting a mass of islands, but it was really just the main highway, hwy 1.
Highway 1, Florida
Towns such as Key Largo and Islamorada were barely noticeable. Shortly before dark, I arrived at the Bonefish Resort, my hotel for the night, just before the town of Marathon.
Islamorada city limits, FL
Marathon, FL
7-mile bridge, Marathon, FL
7-mile bridge, Marathon, FL
Southernmost Point, Key West, FL
Key West, FL
Florida Highway 1, North
Last day back to Miami, FL
Key Largo, FL
Nearly there!
Miami Beach. FL
View of Miami Beach from aircraft window
Half-way home!
Date: January 2016
Location: New York City, USA
Event: 4-day city trip
New York or Hong Kong? No contest!
Boat tour around Manhattan, New York
Boat tour around Manhattan, New York
World Trade Center in the background, New York
World Trade Center from the Statue of Liberty, New York
BA Concorde on display at the Intrepid Musuem, New York
Aboard Concorde, New York
Date: August 2015
Location: Paris, France
Event: Paris – Brest – Paris 1200 km
Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) takes place every 4-years. Having missed the 2011 edition, I was eager to return to the “big one”. I’d ridden the event twice previously; in 2003 & 2007. On both previous occasions, I’d started along side the vedettes (80-hours maximum). This time, I was starting with the 90-hour group. I was in the “H” wave, starting at 5:45 pm Sunday.
On Friday, I flew Easyjet from Liverpool to CDG airport, taking a taxi to my hotel located about 2-miles southwest of the Eiffel Tower and about 10-miles from the new PBP start location at the velodrome. PBP wasn’t starting until the Sunday (my bike check was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, giving me all day to explore Paris). I went up both the Arc de Triomph and Eiffel Tower.
Saturday’s bike check passed off without incident and I occupied the Saturday night by taking in some of Paris’s nightlife.
As I wasn’t starting until 5:45 pm I paid for an extra 2-hours at the hotel, so didn’t need to check-out until 2:00 pm. Arriving at the PBP start about 4:00 pm for the pre-event meal, only to find that the restaurant had ran out of food! I (and a few others) made our way into the nearby village of St. Quentin en Yvelines and found a local restaurant to dine in instead. I bumped into AC Hackney here (Justin Jones + a few others). They were taking the 05:00 am Monday start so they were having a pint or two….. The waves were starting in 15-minute intervals from 4:00 pm, so I sat and watched the other waves pass through whilst I dined.
Start: Velodrome, St. Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
I made my way to the start at about 5:00 pm, and got into position. At 5:30 pm, the wave in front of me (wave G) were off and my wave advanced into position. At 5:45 pm, I was off. As usual it was a quick start, but with the earlier than usual start times at least it was daylight. The first 145 km to Mortagne au Perche was ridden in about 6-hours, but just as I was heading into the control I noticed my front light had gone out. A friend of mine abandoned here (as planned) so I borrowed his. After a quick feed, I put my head down for a couple of hours, waking about 02:30 am. I ventured out into the night for the next leg to Villaines la Juhel, the first control at about 225 km, arriving here just as daylight broke.
The next leg to Fougeres was, in my opinion, the best part of the route! Towns such as Ambrieres-les-Vallees & Gorron are a delight.
Ambrieres-les-Vallees, France
Day 2: on the way to Fougeres, France
I continued throughout the day and into the night, arriving in Brest, the half-way point about 12 noon and crossed the bridge into the city, stopping at the local Carrefour supermarche shortly before the control.
Brest bridge
Done it!
Event jersey; brevet card; water-bottle and medal
Commemorative brevet card and medals
Date: June 2014
Location: Wales, UK
Event: Mille Cymru 1000
This was the second edition of this event. It had previously been ran in July 2010, but I’d missed it – I was desperate to make up for the loss!
Far right, wearing sunglasses
Event memorabilia
Date: July 2009
Location: London, UK
Event: London – Edinburgh – London 1400 km randonnee
This would be the 2nd time on this ride.
Waiting for the start
Gamlingay, final control before the finish
Date: April/May 2009
Location: Florida, USA
Event: 2-week cycle tour around southern Florida
Date: August 2008
Location: California, USA
Event: 1-week cycle tour through southern California
No direct flight to Los Angeles from Manchester so I changed at Chicago! Arriving in LA, I visit Santa Monica before riding into the Mojave desert, stopping in places such as: San Bernardino; Palm Springs; Twentynine Palms and Victorville.
My plane
Los Angeles, CA
Hotel California, Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Highway 1, CA
Hollywood, CA
Hollywood, CA
Near Yucaipa, CA
Near Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs, CA
Pioneertown, CA
Pioneertown, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Waiting at McCarron Airport, NV
Date: December 2007
Location: New York City, USA
Event: City trip
Waiting to board the ferry, New York
Waiting to board the ferry, New York
Empire State Building, New York
Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan, New York
Statue of Liberty, New York
On the boat
Bronx Zoo, New York
Date: August 2007
Location: Paris, France
Event: Paris – Brest – Paris 1200 km
PBP 2007 promotion poster, St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
Me right, alongside Paul o’ Donohue from Audax Ireland
PBP 2007: somewhere in France
Arc de Tripmohe, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Date: July 2007
Location: Texas, USA
Event: 2-week tour around Texas, USA
photos coming soon ……
Date: December 2006
Location: New York City, USA
Event: City trip
Anyone for sightseeing
Waiting to board the ferry
Circleline boat tours, Manhattan behind
On the boat
Statue of Liberty behind
Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty replica
Tiger Mount, Bronx Zoo, New York
Bear faced cheek, Bronx Zoo, New York
Giraffe, Bronx Zoo, New York
Giraffes, Bronx Zoo, New York
Strawberry Fields, Central Park, New York
Imagine, Strawberry Fields, Central Park, New York
Atop the Empire State Building, Manhattan, New York
102nd floor, Empire State Building, New York
View from 102nd floor, Empire State Building, New York
Even King Kong was impressed!
Date: July/August 2006.
Location: Arizona, USA
Event: 11-day cycle tour around south-western USA
Date: July 2005
Location: Thorne, UK
Event: Edinburgh – London 1400 km randonnee
This would be my 1st time on this ride.
photos coming soon ….
burnleycyclist 