This season's trip to France.
The plan was to ride from west coast Bordeaux to Mediterranean coast Perpignan but the heat and the risk of forest fires made me change plans.
Midday temperatures of 42c & evening temps of 35c meant only a small window of riding opportunity from early morning to lunchtime.
I travelled extremely light for me, total 16kg bike, bags, food & 3ltr water – often running out of water, knocking on doors for friendly refills.
After day 1- 120km, day 2- 60km & day 3- only 35km decided give up on ending on the Mediterranean coast and head south to the foothills of the Pyrenees to Foix via Condom, Auch, Carbonne & Pamiers, then finishing in Toulouse.
First time on a carbon, first time without rear panniers and front fork bags instead, first time without bringing cooking equipment, first time with Garmin edge and first time as diabetic type 1!
by cheradine_zakalwe
1 Comment
>often running out of water, knocking on doors for friendly refills.
For non-French: you will find water tap in the cemeteries in every village you pass every 10km or so. And in all the public toilets found in most villages as well. Tap water is considered potable unless it is marked “not potable”. There is only one water network, it’s the same water that goes to the cemetery as to the residents’ homes.