Always Another Adventure

World Bicycle Relief empowers people and communities through life-changing bicycles.  The latest version of their robust Buffalo Bike has two chains, two chain rings and a unique two-gear system to help people cope with heavy loads and rough roads of Africa.  WBR is a very special cycling-focused charity and one I’m happy to support.  On the banks of the River Thames, I speak to Ben Sadler, the Managing Director of World Bicycle Re...

'The Midlife Cyclist' is a book which reshaped the thinking of many cyclists.  Published in 2021, it is in part a scientific analysis of the inevitable changes associated with ageing.  It also offers gentle encouragement on how to cope and manage these changes, to keep fit and healthy into older age. 

In this podcast, the author Phil Cavell talks about the lessons he learnt through researching the book, and goes...

Laval St Germain is a Canadian who has climbed the highest mountain on every continent, the seven summits, including  Everest, from the north side, without supplemental oxygen.  He was the first Canadian to do so. 

When he visits a new country, he always tries to summit its highest peak: And he visits a lot of countries because he’s a commercial airline pilot. 

Laval's website    Instagram     

This month I'm sharing an episode of different podcast, the Adventure Audio Podcast, in which I am the guest.  

I was surprised when I was asked to contribute, given the two hosts, are extremely accomplished outdoors people.  But since I ask others to share their stories, I felt I ought to accept.  

Peter Hockenhull and Laval St. Germain were  probing in their questions, and I probably shared a lot more about...

Glen Van Peski is well known in the United States as a leading member of the ultra-light hiking community and founder of https://www.gossamergear.com/ His new book extends the 'take less do more' philosophy, from backpacking to life as he and his wife Francie live it. We met in 2002 when Glen helped Liz and I on our PCT thru-hike, and it was great to reconnect with him. 
Book on Amazon ▶︎ https://amzn.to/3IvRFQj (affi...

Dr Peter Clarkson, is an NHS Cardiologist based in the Scottish highlands, and a very keen and talented rock climber.   He has also competed in triathlons.

I’ve been trying to answer a question; 'how hard is too hard' when it comes to exercise for an older athlete?   How close to maximum heart rate should we be hiking, running and cycling?  What are the warning signs we're going too hard, too often?

There’s more adventure in this podcast than most.  Ed Ley-Wilson talks us through Running the great Wall of China; kayaking Patagonia; and the kayak journey along Scotland’s west coast that promoted his most recent book.  Along the way we’ll take a dive into the ethics of fish farming.  

Ed’s first book about running the Himalaya is called ‘The Himalayan Shuffle’ and you can find old copies on various websites.

Ed...

Get your 2024 off to an exciting start by planning to cycle 100 miles this summer in Scotland's friendliest, free century ride.   

Ride to the Sun is a (semi)-organised, summer solstice 100 mile ride through the night, from the English border city of Carlisle to the village of Cramond just north of Edinburgh in Scotland, aiming to arrive for sunrise around 4:20am.

We’ll hear from organisers Gary Cameron and F...

This is a story of adventure on the highest of mountains, and also so much more.   A young TV camera operator gets his first big break to film on Everest.  He then has to come to terms with almost dying in an avalanche and the tragedy of losing friends in two of the biggest disasters ever to hit that mountain. 

In this podcast we hear the story of Joe French's recovery from post traumatic stress, barefoot running thr...

Part 2.  Former British Mountain Bike champion, Active Nation Commission for Scotland, and now author of an excellent memoir (sort of memoir) Other Ways to Win we'll hear from the inspiring Lee Craigie.  Lee and I take a short ride together, chatting about the book and some of its deeper themes.  Lee reads passages from the book and these act as springboards for our conversation. 

There are too many adventure stories...

Former British Mountain Bike champion, Active Nation Commission for Scotland, and now author of an excellent memoir (sort of memoir) Other Ways to Win we'll hear from the inspiring Lee Craigie.  Lee and I take a short ride together, chatting about the book and some of its deeper themes.  Lee reads passages from the book and these act as springboards for our conversation. 

There are too many adventure stories for one ...

The parallels between solo ocean racing and other ultra endurance sports are not immediately obvious.  But as I listened to Pip Hare talk about her goal to complete the Vendee Globe - solo around the world race - for the second time, age 50, I heard striking and surprising parallels between this multi-million euro sport and simple ultra running or cycling.  At which Pip also excels.  She is part of the only team - a pair - to ever ...

If you, a friend or a family member has an accident in the outdoors or elsewhere, would you know what to do?  Many lives have been lost because people wait for trained help to arrive rather than carrying out simple first aid.  I took a two-day first aid course with the First Aid Training Cooperative, part-owned by Cory Jones.  He talks us through the thinking behind outdoor first aid, and you'll hear clips from the training an...

Better known as a mountain and trail runner, when Donnie Campbell took up gravel cycling he started winning races and smashing FKTs.   Donnie has been on the podcast twice, talking about the wild places he runs (Ep. 2) and setting a new record for the fastest self-propelled round of Scotland's "Munro" mountains (Ep. 35). 

Now he explains his very different approach to bikepacking races - he doesn't sle...