General / Off-Topic Monte-Carlo or bust

Cyclosphere

Cyclosphere
This summer I took a break from exploring the galaxy to explore a little bit more of this planet. I set off from Leeds in Yorkshire and cycled to Portsmouth to catch the ferry to Cherbourg. Then south east via the Loire Valley and the Rhone Valley, through the Gorges de la Nesque and the Gorge du Verdon. Reached the coast at Villefranche-sur-Mer and followed the coast through Nice to Monaco before turning north into the Alps, which was the main focus of the tour. Cycled over the Col de la Bonette, which at 2800m is now the highest mountain pass I have cycled over in Europe. Also cycled over the Col du Galibier, not quite as high at 2600m but with great views of the snow and glacier covered La Mieje. After that it was north through the Jura then north west to Dieppe and the ferry to Newhaven. Usually I avoid cycling through London but this time I went all the way through the city because I wanted to cycle across one of the most iconic bridges in the world, Tower Bridge. Ended up cycling across it three times looking for a good vantage point to take a photograph. Then it was back to Leeds.

I took lots of photographs and if you want to see them, plus photographs from other tours in Europe, one tour in Australia, three tours in New Zealand and eight tours in the USA, just follow this link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RNoF24MwdESH-W52YKOAN7rZNgVeRnPI?usp=sharing
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
Avid Cyclist here. I've always wanted to do something like this.
How much did it cost and how long did it take? Did you camp or use hotels?
 

Cyclosphere

Cyclosphere
I was free camping, so the main costs where food and drink, about 10 euros a day. There were also the ferry fares, 60 pounds to Cherbourg but only 30 euros from Dieppe to Newhaven. And ... I had to have my bottom bracket bearings replaced, that cost about 70 euros, which was a lot cheaper than I expected. It took me seven weeks in total.
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
Cyclosphere said:
I was free camping, so the main costs where food and drink, about 10 euros a day. There were also the ferry fares, 60 pounds to Cherbourg but only 30 euros from Dieppe to Newhaven. And ... I had to have my bottom bracket bearings replaced, that cost about 70 euros, which was a lot cheaper than I expected. It took me seven weeks in total.
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Nice. You are an inspiration. This is on my bucket list.
How many miles a day? I hobby cycle and manage about 25-30 miles, but 40 is where i start to feel like the walking dead. being stuck in the middle of no where and completely burned out is my primary concern.
 
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Cyclosphere

Cyclosphere
Well, I don't have one of those computers that tell you how far you have cycled, average speed, maximum speed and so on. But on average I think I cycle about 50 miles a day. Heading south along the flat valleys with a good tailwind I may have cycled further than that, while in the mountains probably less. For me, the key to cycling these distances each day is pacing. I stop a lot to eat and rest. I often feel very tired by early afternoon so I just lie down for an hour or so on, get some sleep if I can. It was very hot going south in France so I was always looking for good places in the shade to stop and rest.
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
Cyclosphere said:
Well, I don't have one of those computers that tell you how far you have cycled, average speed, maximum speed and so on. But on average I think I cycle about 50 miles a day. Heading south along the flat valleys with a good tailwind I may have cycled further than that, while in the mountains probably less. For me, the key to cycling these distances each day is pacing. I stop a lot to eat and rest. I often feel very tired by early afternoon so I just lie down for an hour or so on, get some sleep if I can. It was very hot going south in France so I was always looking for good places in the shade to stop and rest.
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A fiddy a day. You're in better shape than me.
 
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