A summer cycling adventure: Riding from Uppsala to Montpellier, raising money for EuroVelo along the way

I soon had the idea of going on my first long-distance bike trip: I really enjoy cycling, but I have never before gone on a trip lasting more than a few days. I started thinking about possible destinations; I considered combining train travel and cycling to go further. But then a little voice popped into my head that said: “Yannis, you could just cycle home!”

Slowly, the idea got more precise: I will cycle 4,500 km over two months, starting on 24 June, through nine European countries. Pedalling all the way from Sweden to the south of France using only the strength of my legs, with almost no carbon footprint (except for a few short ferry rides). While it is a sporting challenge, the idea of this trip is not just about that or about travelling far just for the sake of it. It is also about taking the time to experience the places I pass through, while, of course, spending many long days in nature.

I have decided to adopt this approach because I find that I’m often drawn to exotic places on the other side of the world. Generally speaking, we are tempted to go see all the highlights that are promoted to us in guidebooks or on social media. But there are countless places that are worth seeing in Europe, right on our doorstep, that we don’t necessarily know and that we can take the time to appreciate, all while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of our travels.

When you travel slowly – by bicycle, for example – you truly reconnect with nature, from which our city lives too often distance us. I know that I rediscover nature when I pedal for hours. A calmness comes over me, my eyes eventually notice details they’ve never seen before, my ears pick up on the birdsong much more clearly… my senses remind me just how good being in nature makes me feel – this is one of the many reasons why we absolutely must protect it!

I thought that I could inspire others with my idea (and I’m sure you don’t need to plan a 4,500 km trip to be inspired by it!).

Finally, I want to raise awareness about the values that are important to me and the EuroVelo network along which I will be cycling for large sections of this adventure. So you can follow me here and discover some beautiful landscapes and bike routes with me that might be right in your own backyard!

If you think that my project makes sense – but more importantly, if you believe that promoting slow travel and tourism in harmony with nature conservation makes sense – I would invite you to contribute to my donation campaign for the EuroVelo route network by clicking here.

Written and photographed by Yannis Kefaloucos.