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A new season is very nearly upon us, more glorious cycling, with great wine and food, in some of the most beautiful parts of France.   Our first tours start in June: June 16th – 23rd: Provence June 23rd –…

Following on from a theme from last month, I’ve asked a good friend (and Chain Ganger) Danny Daly to put together a list of films about Italy. The brief was films that would either give a flavour of Italy, celebrate…

Since January I’ve had up to 4 Italian lessons a week in the hope of being able to guide some of our own Chain Gang Italian tours. Memory has become an issue at the ripe age of 50, but my…

As you can imagine, I read quite a few cycling books, particularly biographies of racing superstars. Back in March I got a very pleasant surprise one morning when a package arrived from The Guardian newspaper containing a new biography of…

Photographs are very important to us at The Chain Gang. We rely on them for brochures, website, newsletters, etc. The problem is that it isn’t as easy as it looks! In recognition of my own limitations I’ve recently enrolled on…

Here’s just a bit of fun, and something I’d like your help with. I often find that films and books remind me of the areas we cycle through. Partly that’s obvious – I like to buy and read books about…

So, we’re all set. I’ve finalised plans for The Chain Gang’s weeklong exploration of all things Parisian. The itinerary and some background are now available on our website, along with dates and prices. This year we’re planning just two tours,…

Of our French tours, the distinctiveness and quality of the local cuisine varies widely. Whatever locals might tell you, the Loire Valley and Bordeaux are generic ‘French’ – delicious when done well, but you can get it anywhere. The Dordogne…

Ten years after being advised by Dick Allen, Steve Foote and Gary Ford to organise a bike tour around Normandy, and finally prompted by my brother Mike’s good sense, The Chain Gang will offer bike tours around Normandy, and I’m…

Modesty forces me to say this wasn’t my idea, but I do think it’s a wonderful one – thank you Nicolas Rannou, French triathlete now based in Exeter. We’re all familiar with Paris’ famous landmarks, places like the Eiffel Tower,…