London to the Lowlands- a winter cycle touring trip
Cycle touring is generally something people might do in the summer- but, I was keen to, this year, start January with some extended pedalling. Having spent a few weeks cycling during summer months in 2015 there, a return to the lowlands of Belgium and the Netherlands was one of the first places that came to mind- different from home, not too far away, weather should be too inclement, and where cycling is a joy. As something to look forward to for after Christmas, I started a bit of planning in October or so- giving me the best chance to get some good prices on transport.
Cycle touring is, for me, a great way to combine some of my interests. Beyond the actual cycling element (which, of course, is a primary aspect), it is a fantastic way to visit new places and locations; get into the outdoors and engage with nature; and access art, culture and architecture. I furthermore value the flexibility, and few restrictions, of where I can go; the independence and self-sufficiency of cycling; that it is a low impact and sustainable form of travel; and that it aligns well with a preference as a solo (and often solitary) traveller. Another attraction, and which is perhaps a bit self-specific, is that I as quite fascinated (and have been since a young age) by maps and mapping. The daily planning of cycle routes, looking back at Strava data, and connecting cycles through places over time is something I really enjoy- my cycling feels like a way of slowly and gradually mapping the world around me, and the places I visit, in my head.
Considering these different aspects, I thought I might develop some blog posts that rather than chronologically recounting my trip day by day, somehow collate my photographs and experiences according to some of these general themes. A post on the general planning and cycling aspect of my trip; a post on landscapes, nature and places visited; and a post on accessing art and culture on the route I took.
And, as they saying goes, a picture says a thousand words- so Iāll let some of the images do most of the talking. These are a few from my route planning and travelling on the bike (including via public transport) as I travelled, via London, to Belgium and Netherlands (with a quick pop into Germany).
A few general points points from my experiences:
- I was pretty impressed with Virgin Trains and how they dealt with me travelling with my bike on the West Coast mainline in the UK- storage on the train, plus having cyclist assigned seats right next to the bike compartment.
- There is a clear step up and effort in London to introduce cycling infrastructure through its ācycling superhighwaysā. Away from these core routes, however, can still be trickyā¦
- From Flanders Belgium through to the Netherlands is a joy to cycle in- infrastructure, services, attitudes- and a great option even in the winter. However, it can be cold- and warm cycling gear really important (layers, and especially feet, hands and earsā¦)
- Ā I do really enjoy using a ferry as part of my cycle, as it gives greatĀ ācontinuityā to the journey. However, while I took the ferry from Rotterdam to Hull- it did leave me the quite onerous journey of taking my bike on 3 connecting trains back to Glasgow. The change over at 5.30 on a Friday night in Leeds station was a little freneticā¦
I tend to use Instagram now while travelling. These (with a few words/location), and others, are on my account @couchtocairn.