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@Jimmy_Fingers
Got back from France last night, spent the best part of 8 days cycling around it (the others were spent being wined and dined at various Chateau, ridiculous food, just glad I didn't have to pay!)
Firstly loved cycling in Bordeaux, although at first I didn't know where to look considering the hodge-podge of trams, cars, scooters and peds pretty much everywhere. Witnessed a lot of near misses but somehow the chaos worked, mainly because no one got mad. It was a relief for me as I could escape to to pavement when required and no intakes of breath, angry looks and outraged cyclists taking to the internet to vent their spleen. A far few fixed gear riders there too, did run into a cadre of them on a night out and a shared a few 'belle velo' comments as they had them stacked up on the bench next to the tables.
Since my phone was useless I have no idea of the mileage covered, but I was going 80-100k a day fully laden without any major problems, at least with the legs. The problem came from my arse and my hands. Tried rotating the saddle back a little and raising the bar, but apart from that just needed a day's worth of downtime, spent watching le Tour in a bar.
The Guerc looked sexy on French streets
Outside Leoville-Barton, fully laden, about 70k into a 110k ride. Had a major wobble in Margaux due to dehydration, thank good for generous restaurants and l'eau frais from the bar.
Roads were good but often exposed, and early starts were needed to avoid major midday wobbles, since so many French towns are flippin' ghost towns
I ditched the bags for the odd day, here I was off the Royan to search for a bike shop and a new lock via the ferry across the entrance to the Gironde.
Met dave. He was 'Murcan and riding from Germany to Portugal. We may have got stoned together. I can neither confirm or deny. Dude is a legend though.
Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande. They wouldn't let me in to fill my bidons, the dirty swines.
Cos d'Estournel my personal favourite. Bonkers building.
Very sensible in that sun, at times it was utterly brutal. Was putting away a litre an hour, which on 8 hour rides was a challenge sourcing.
Reminded me of my old skateboard. Anyway fucking incredible time, but plenty of mistakes made. In July in France a bivvi bag is asking for trouble: I got bitten to hell lying on the ground and no protection. Insects didn't even factor into my thinking, from now on always a tent. 20 minutes trying to get a beetle out your ear at 2am after it crawled it and got stuck is not an experience I ever want to repeat.