Carbon Aero bike vs Steel loaded Tourer
Childish…
Its getting Hot!
Normally, I don’t do hot weather, however throwing myself into a warmer climate and adding on top cycling, I’m surprising myself at how well I am coping with the heat. Since meeting Norman and Renas, the schedule I was working to seems to have gone out the window a little. I was planning on doing…
Au Revoir France – Hola Spain
The last week saw me spending my last few days in France, leaving the Workaway placement in Olargues and arriving in Spain. After going to the local festival of the cherry’s (Cerises) Local Festival in Mons Trivalle Elke and Norbert saw me off, sending me away with bread, locally cured sausage and the ever so…
Spanish Cycling
Saw this guy on the way to Viladamat, his road awareness skills could do with a little polishing maybe.
Workaway Week – Olargues
The last week I have been on a Workaway placement in Olargues in Southern France. Workaway I came across the site when reading another cycle touring blog and from what they had written it seemed a very good idea. Simply put,you do some work for free board and lodging which will allow you to explore…
Stopping Late – Canal Boats and Olargues
Cycling along the Garrone Canal from La Reole was a pleasant experience, the weather in the most part was fantastic, much of the time I had a tailwind and the scenery was great. Port Sur Blaise At Port Sur Blaise they had a shower for 2 euros and and the weather was heating up nicely,…
Cycling the Canal Du Garonne
Not much time…
Not had time to update with a post yet but the track my tour page and Instagram photos are being updated more regularly. I will be updating with a proper post when I can. It’s quite a steep learning curve, 5 days on the road and 360 miles covered and I’m in Marans, using the…
Off to a Sunny Start
Please forgive any unusual spellings or what appear to be mistakes, I am writing this on a French keyboard in a library, hiding from the thunderstorms) and the letters are in different locations. If I were to write the cat sat on the mat using where the keys would normally be on a UK keyboard…
Goodbye Ride & Drinks – 4th May 2014
4th May 2014 The Ride Goodbye Ride & Drinks – What to wear, this time of year is always difficult, you’re going on a big ride and its cold to start with. Leg warmers? Arm warmers? Base layers? Thick gloves? You know that no matter what you wear, it’ll be wrong once you get going…
The Bike
What do you do and where do you start about getting a bike that would be suitable for a long bike ride or to go touring on? It’s bewildering, when you start to look into the multitude of options there are for choosing a suitable bike to go touring on, what frame material, what gears…
Drugs… How Many, How Much!?!?
Preparation for a long bike ride, what injections do you need and what drugs should I take with me? Vaccines The vaccines and inoculations were not too difficult to work out, it just took a visit to the travel clinic. After explaining the the trip to the nurse, and that I didn’t know exactly where…
Why do this?
Why? Good Question, Why do this? Why would someone in a secure good job decide to hand in their notice, leave their family and friends behind and jump into the unknown by getting on a bike and cycling off for a long bike ride? Well, where do you start? For me, I found that personally and…
Wild Camping an Introduction
This weekend I decided to go wild camping (or at least for one night with the option of staying at a Camp site one night). I’ve been camping loads of times or at least fishing overnight and I’ve been a fisherman or should I say fisherboy to start with since I was 6 and my…
Le retour et la sortie de récupération – Severn Bridge Sportive
The return home from Portsmouth on Saturday was interesting, the homeward Headwind theme continued … and got stronger, the cycling Gods were ½ smiling, it was the sunniest it had been all week. Going over Salisbury plain was particularly bad dragging my speed down at points below 10mph! On the way back I came across…
Rouen to Le Havre
WARNING, 5 HOURS TO KILL ON THE FERRY, IT’S A LONG ONE! Last ride in France today, back to the ferry port in Le Havre. Last night I stayed with Catherine and Claire who I had met through the warm showers website. My hosts weren’t home until 10pm so to I took the opportunity to…
Au Revoir Paris..
by gplhlTime to leave, say goodbye. Woke up this morning to a downpour. Mmm a whole day in the saddle in the rain. After checking the forecast it confirmed, rain all day. Claire had to go to work early so we had breakfast at half seven which allowed me to get ready and set off…
Gastronomy
Last night Claire and Stephane took me to a local restaurant Chez Glandine where we met Christophe who had done several long rides with Claire including LEJOG. Stephane, Claire and Christophe outside Chez Glandine Locally Chez Glandine is legendary serving excellent food at great prices. When we arrived there were several people milling around outside…
Rest day in Paris
by gplhlHaving a quiet day in Paris today with no firm plans of what to do. Woke up somewhen just gone 8 after a good nights sleep. Breakfast was great, Croissant, coffee and plenty of Stéphanes home made bread with butter and jam. I was lent a map of the city and after talking with…
Le Havre to Paris
by gWoke up at 6:00am UK time 7:00an French time and headed straight to the restaurant for a full English. The restaurant is at the front of the boat which had a nice view of the heavy rain outside. Docked fine and set off into the rain at about 8:30. Did exactly the same as…