Earlier this August, Condor’s assistant store manager, Tom, set off on a week-long bikepacking journey that blended scenic riding, cultural discoveries, and plenty of pastries. His route took him from London to Dover, across the Channel by ferry to Dunkirk, and then weaving through Belgium and northern France before looping back.
The trip wasn’t just about miles in the saddle — it was about slowing down, discovering new places, the flakiest pastries, and getting to know his new Condor Bivio Gravel, which he designed with a custom paint finish.
Setting Off: London to Dunkirk
Tom’s journey began in London, where he made his way south-east towards Dover. “Leaving London going south-east was a little slow”, he recalls, “but passing Greenwich Observatory on the way out provided a nice view.”
After a stop in Canterbury for food, the roads grew progressively more rural before he rolled into Dover. Tom had booked a 6pm ferry but managed to catch the earlier 4pm sailing, ensuring he reached Dunkirk while it was still light.
Day Two: Breakfast in Dunkirk and the road to Bruges
In Dunkirk, Tom picked up breakfast at Boulangerie Vanpeperstraete Henri before joining a canal path that would carry him all the way to Bruges. “It was completely flat and was being used by everyone from group rides to parents taking their kids to school”, he said.
Belgium’s cycling infrastructure quickly made an impression: safe, efficient, and a joy to ride.
Day Three: Exploring Bruges
Tom hadn’t been to the city before so he used day three to explore. Starting with an early morning booking to climb the medieval Belfry of Bruges (Belfort), unfortunately the ascent was slow going as plenty of American tourists had made a similar early booking.
He then joined a Guru Walk tour to get a quick introduction to the city. “The tours are usually free but you're expected to tip the guide, usually around €10–20”. In the evening Tom went back to Belfort for a free carillon concert.
Of course, there were bakeries, too, including Bakkerij Petris and coffee at August.
Day Four: Bruges to Brussels (via Ghent)
From Bruges, Tom covered 113 km to Brussels, riding mostly along flat canal paths. A mid-morning stop in Ghent brought him to The Bakery, an Instagram find, where a perfectly laminated pain suisse caught his eye (and taste buds).
In Brussels, dinner at Nona, a pizzeria he swears serves some of the best pizza in Europe, capped off the day. “I only got a photo of the olives as I was too excited to eat the pizza when it arrived”, Tom admitted.
Day Five: A Day in Brussels
A day off the bike gave Tom the chance to wander the city and sample more pastries — this time at The Grain, a bakery he’d found on Instagram. “This was really my favourite place of the whole trip”, he said. “The staff were very friendly and the food was great.”
Tom recommends the chausson aux pommes, a continental apple turnover with spiced compote. The rest of the day was spent as part of a Guru Walk tour around the city.
He stayed at Numa Stay Lief. Thanks to its simple online check-in and staff-free system, there was no issue taking his bike into his room.
Day Six: Brussels to Lille
Tom’s longest ride came on day six: 120 km from Brussels to Lille. The route mixed canal paths with a couple of climbs past Geraadsbergen, adding some welcome variety.
In Lille, he treated himself at Meert, famous for its vanilla-filled waffles. Expect a fairly sizable queue and price. Later, he joined another Guru Walk tour and had dinner in a lively food hall with his guide.
Day Seven: Lille to Dunkirk
The final stretch saw Tom ride 95 km back to Dunkirk, crossing in and out of Belgium before re-entering France. Spotting an earlier ferry home, he pushed the pace to make it aboard — just as he had at the start of his trip.
Tom met other riders on the ferry and they compared notes and took the train back from Dover to London.
The Bakery
Try pain suisse with outstanding buttery lamination.
Vlaanderenstraat 28, Gent, Belgium 9000
Reflections on the Ride
Looking back, Tom was most struck by the cycling culture on the continent. “The cycling infrastructure in Belgium and France made it such a pleasure to ride there”, he said. “A big chunk of the route was on dedicated cycle paths but even when I was around cars they gave me so much more space than I’m used to in the UK.”
Next time? “I’d skip the first route out of London and get the train to Dover. There was something nice about cycling all the way from home, but the real joy started once I was on the continent.”
Planning Your Own Bikepacking Belgium Trip
For anyone inspired to follow Tom’s tracks:
Routes: You can find his routes on Strava.
London to Dover
Dunkirk to Bruges
Bruges to Brussels
Brussels to Lille
Lille to Dunkirk
Accommodation: Tom recommends trying WarmShowers (a community of cyclists hosting cyclists), but always have a backup hotel in mind and try to message everyone in the area as you don’t always get a reply.
Before booking accomodation check if they will accept your bike into the hotel room. Typically larger basic hotel chains don't mind compared to small guest houses who may have a store room.