Cycling Europe: Malaga to Monaco and Beyond
Bicycle touring Europe in April/May 2011, Malaga to Monaco. A somewhat random ride, but it was to serve two purposes. Later on in the year, Garry was planning an epic cycle ride to Australia. And knew that he would have to take his bike on an aeroplane, something that he’d never done before. In the past, Garry had always managed to get around by either ferry or train. But on this trip, there was no avoiding it, so it was a trial run for flying with a bike. And what better place than to try it than in Europe? That way, if anything did go wrong, maybe if the bicycle got lost or damaged, Garry could get home quickly and easily.
Another reason for the Malaga to Monaco bicycle tour was that past trips of Garry’s had seen him cycle around much of the coastline of Europe, from Venice to Amsterdam. But there was a gap, yes, you’ve guessed it, the bit between Malaga and Monaco. And this was the ideal opportunity to do it and kill two birds with one stone. Flying with his bike and completing another stretch of the European coastline. And, of course, it was a good excuse to go on a bike ride.
The trip would start from Gatwick, the nearest airport to Garry. His flight was scheduled to depart at 6.30 am. Too early to cycle the forty miles from home to Gatwick. And too early to get a train. Instead, Garry stayed the night in a hotel, which was a bit of a waste of money. Garry spent a good part of the night awake, worrying about the flight and his bike. Anyway, the following morning came, and Garry checked his bike in and boarded the plane.
Will My Bike Arrive
The flight seemed to last forever, but eventually, Garry arrived in Malaga, along with his bicycle. In one piece with no damage! What was Garry worrying about?
Once in Spain, Garry set about cycling up the coast to Monaco. And after sixteen days of peddling, he reached his destination. After reaching Monaco, Garry turned inland, intending to cycle home. But midway through France, Garry realised he wouldn’t get home in time for the annual Isle of Wight trip, something he didn’t want to miss, especially as he wouldn’t be able to attend the following year. So, skipping a big chunk of France, Garry jumped on a train.
Garry arrived back in the UK and made it to the Isle of Wight. He’d also managed to take his bike on a plane. And now felt confident enough to take his bike on any flight or aeroplane. He’d also managed to join up his previous trips and had now cycled the entire coastline of Europe, from Venice to Amsterdam!
Total miles cycled: 1821.
Photos
Video’s Garry’s YouTube channel
Garry’s Route
Follow & Support
If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel Garry’s next mile, you can always support him by buying him a beer. Or subscribe to his blog and follow him as he travels around on his bike. As a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow Garry on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. Garry’s also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all his tours, along with regular photo updates that he generally publishes each month.
If you want to find out if Garry’s away touring at the moment and check his location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And after thousands of miles on the road, Garry’s condensed everything he’s learned into one place. So if you’re planning your own cycling adventure, read his reality check on long-distance touring.
Garry McGivern is a solo, self-supported bicycle tourist and the creator of Travelsonabike2. Having cycled over 70,000 miles worldwide on his trusty bike, Passepartout, Garry documents the reality of long-distance travel. Follow along for updates, gear insights, and the daily highs and lows of bicycle touring, whether he’s camped beside the road or in the luxury of a hotel. Join Garry on the road, and be inspired to start your own adventure. Read more.