Today’s ride: 96km, 2605m elevation Total so far: 910km, 8753m It was the perfect French breakfast. A lump of cheese, a hunk of bread, coffee and a glass of juice on a sunny morning in the square. I chatted to two Norwegian cyclists and pulled out my map for us to pore over, before sending … Continue reading Paris-Nice Day Seven: Col du Galibier
Author: Rich Blagden
Paris-Nice Day Six: Col de la Madeleine
Today’s ride: 97km, 1794m elevation Total so far: 814km, 6148m It’s often said that cycling is unique, in that you can play in the same sporting arenas as your heroes. You can’t just rock up at Wembley or Lords and expect to get a run-around with your mates, but you can go and ride the … Continue reading Paris-Nice Day Six: Col de la Madeleine
Paris-Nice Day Two: The Three Rivers
Today’s ride: 148km, 291m elevation Total so far: 233km, 683m Saturday began with a smattering of light rain that perhaps didn’t bode well, but our preorder from the local boulangerie was waiting for us at reception and spirits were high. After the customary wrong turn at the start, we were soon heading south on an … Continue reading Paris-Nice Day Two: The Three Rivers
Paris-Nice Day One: Île de Paris
Today’s ride: 85km, 392m elevation Total so far: 85km, 392m elevation It’s 11am in Paris, and opposite the Gare St Nazare Two middle aged men are fiddling with their bikes. Their coffee and croissants are slowly cooling on the table beside them while the traffic honks slowly past, two lanes deep. Things are being adjusted … Continue reading Paris-Nice Day One: Île de Paris
Waun Fach and the Dragon’s Back
Earlier this year, we talked about taking on a big challenge this summer and, while my initial ideas of backpacking around west Wales or taking on the South Downs Way haven’t come off yet, yesterday we tackled something I’ve wanted to do for a while - the Dragon’s Back. I adore the Brecon Beacons - … Continue reading Waun Fach and the Dragon’s Back
Morning out in the Malverns
Here’s a new one. For the last week or so, I have been completely fed up of my bike. Since New Year I’ve been training fairly hard for the Paris-Nice trip, and therein lies the problem. I’ve lost 8kg and I’m fitter than I have been for a while. Actually, realistically, I’m as fit as … Continue reading Morning out in the Malverns
Podcast: Exe Estuary to Exmoor
If you're a blog subscriber you might not have noticed that I have a new podcast on the website called Pain and Fromage! I've set this up to gather together some of the audio that I've recorded on various trips but also to share some experiences from the road (mostly, I think from bike trips). … Continue reading Podcast: Exe Estuary to Exmoor
From the Exe to Exmoor
The last week or so has flown by, and all of a sudden the Paris trip is upon us. In three weeks we’ll be exiting the French capital en route to Nice, and today was my last opportunity to train. Next week is the last one before half term - always a busy one - … Continue reading From the Exe to Exmoor
Bike Anxiety
We now have just 40 days to go until the big trip from Paris to Nice, and I’m starting to get anxious. It’s not my fitness. I’ve worked hard this year and shed 9kg in weight, and I’m probably as fit as I’ve ever been. We have the logistics nailed, trains and ferries booked, and … Continue reading Bike Anxiety
Inspired by Adnams – my new homebrewing system
A couple of weeks ago, while on holiday in East Anglia, I took a tour of the Adnams brewery in Southwold. It was a fairly expensive tour at £30 a head, but it was excellent and the beer samples at the end were generous. In the tap room was a piece of equipment that made … Continue reading Inspired by Adnams – my new homebrewing system