This video series follows my adventure in Sept-Oct 2023, along with 19 other cyclist friends, old and new, with Pedal Britain & Europe cycling from the English Channel at Saint Malo in France, across the entire country to the Mediterranean at Nice 14 days later, visiting the “Beast Of Provence” Mont Ventoux along the way.
A Spine injury has meant my preparation was almost non existent for the preceding 3 months and with Surgery booked for my return to the UK, I was at the start line full of Nerve Blocking medication and full of doubt as to the possibility of completing the full trip and certainly the ascent of Ventoux seemed a forlorn hope when we set off
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Day nine was being touted not quite accurately I have to say as a rest day but if you equate rest as being easier than what you’ve been doing then yes it was indeed a rest day we had the Fantastic descent down into the beautiful ardesh region to look forward
To crammed with Vineyards and fruit orchards in beautiful weather once again too although it was a chilly 10° when we set off in the shelter of the hills around M chil start again today but we’ve got a hot day ahead beautiful scenery too apparently so should be a good
Day okay I can’t see anymore but at least I’m Warm Here we go up again it’s amazing really how different it really is cycling in this shade at this time of the morning and then going out into the Sun a trip like this changes the laws of physics 3% up is the new down now off the main busy road going
Down a quiet a road down to some kind of valley very nice and straight into another Hill they’re never far away that nice downhill Mi readjusting my Brak brilliant I like the jog where you’re going through well you know places you know and you know where the
Bike shops are here you’re out in the middle of nowhere a lot you got to have somebody who knows bike mechanics inside out and mix that man Go yeah he’s good on the Hills this week certainly prefer this to yesterday’s start George it was seen it that was so hard that first Hill yeah but the hill was a bit oh that’s putting it mildly I think said that’s as cheap as he gets to yes that
Was the only good news about it it was just steep as it gets is this a yeah Che hiy hi a lovely there who lives in a house like this like a Hermit yeah to pass the time on these gentle climbs the conversations aren’t always about the scenery in the weather but
Since Linda’s son married into French family and we go over a lot my range of cheeses that I’ll eat is enormous now the grandchildren when they were like you know 2 years old just like kids back home might eat chocolate you they’re eating cheese yeah I found the cheeses
On this trip be wonderful in England people have sometimes have a cheese and wine party in France it’s just a way of life it is a a gradual up I think this is one of those mornings where even the flat bits are up yeah 1% which is up Le blar is where we’re having our Break wow that’s not just a headwind that’s a strong headwind where’s that come from I don’t know I checked it out today it should be behind her we’re either temporarily going north or your information is talking out its ass stopping occasionally to drink in the wonderful scenery and of course to rest
The backside just had to be done today as Break oh we may be going up to where that all ruined Castle Is woohoo it was comforting to hear George confirm it wasn’t just me regressing back to Childhood and I love a lot of these old churches where the Bell is actually in the open wonder you yeah yeah how many times am I going to do VTO is an easy question to answer just a one I’m amazed that some of the guys are going to try the three wow I
Just can’t imagine what it must feel like to do two of them and be absolutely whacked but you think what was the point of doing the second one if I don’t have a go at the third but I’m already too tired to you want to give
The the one shot your best to see what you do yeah yeah I don’t know I guess that’s why there’s chocolate and that’s why there’s vanilla The Brew stop has always came at the right time as it had been almost all uphill for 17 miles giving a chance for
Refueling and chatting over a coffee and cake me as we set off a cry of car back came from behind but as I moved forward to getting single file this driver wasn’t waiting in spite of the oncoming red car who made his feelings known shortly after the Brew stop which
Was 2 mil from the top of the first uphill section we came across this this translated as the Watershed line rain falling on one side of the line apparently will end up in the Atlantic and on the other side in the Mediterranean we could have had a pee to
Test it out but everyone had gone at the Bruce stop so we just moved on Ricardo oh Yeah you can’t really get a lot speed up because there’s a quite a strong wind today often into your face so it’s slowing you down a bit but it’s still great no pedaling you can lift your backside off it’s such a Relief pretty spul fantastic isn’t it well this long downhill it’s not EX L A White Knuckle ride but the fact is there no effort required sometimes it’s only 1% but it is down the day is really broken into four sections we climbed all the way for 17 mies Again not difficult climbing
Whatsoever then we got this magnificent downhill all the way to lunch immediately after lunch we’ve got another long uphill probably similar to the start of the day and then finishes off with yet another long downhill to the end so it’s definitely a interesting four stage day definitely smile on your face cycling which
Is different to the Grimace that’s been there a lot of the Week oh Wow how beautiful is that shatow Des what a beautiful spot this amazing Shadow was a very special site aptly named as we’ve all been champed really on this trip to be honest oh wow it’s just it’s the kind of ride that you just smile all the way along Hi You found a photo spot oh yeah nice one rich nice spot always the one to find the photo opportunity there another goodie this is just like Photo photography heaven oh yeah here it is it’s empty though is it it needs Topping what a lovely spot that was Steve gladwin’s wife Debbie following us on the tour sightseeing along the Way oh new tarmac new tarmac velvet oh it’s up pill what’s going on yeah what’s all about oh I’m going to complain goes on Forever spectacular oh beautiful How was that oh y that was very very nice oh my gosh we saw George’s French holiday home halfway down didn’t we George champ God what place that was so that’s lunch done in an absolutely idilic spot after that very very long downhill effortless run and now we have 5 miles of Uphill here we got a steep section here immediately after lunch not always the best time for This and the Sun is really hot Now and there you go Steve powerful man saes passed effortlessly oh Craig you’re doing it again mate sailing past effort effortlessly he can do it I can’t even say It right you’re are now you can break into song or swear or whatever the H are alive there you go with the sound of music you’re definitely a base next one next one next one yeah leevan that’s where we’re staying isn’t it lesv van named after Mick and
Paul after who the two van drivers Vans yeah that was lost on me I’m afraid I know they don’t get any better and after that dodgy oldtime music H double act back to the Cycling ass break ah look at that look at that we were probably down there this morning w we we’re down at that level marvelous little photo opportunity and rest of the bum and we’re back with the group that’s more or less all downhill all the way to the
Hotel so it really has been in compared for every other day an easy day 50 Mi and nearly 3,00 000 ft of climbing it’s all relative oh wow that’s a good Place you got any more room on your Phone this is all part of these multi-day events is it just stopping and Gathering and photograph it tomorrow we get to get a first glimp of on too yeah we will do it tomorrow it’s over there with a Dr on top it’s visible from about 100 km away and we’ll
Definitely well we end up at the foot of it tomorrow so yeah yeah I would imagine halfway through tomorrow’s ride you’ll start to see it oh Marvelous hey [Applause] Beautiful [Applause] this is the town we’re staying [Applause] in all right awesome [Applause] steepest hill of the bloody day maybe we shouldn’t have stopped at the bar oh no Cafe legs beer legs beer legs been an easy day up to now here we go L carel look at this
Right then boys thank you again for another great [Applause] ride the hotel being a converted Convent there was a pretty grand disused out building to store the bikes and back up again and into the church I’ve never seen a church with pool tables Before what a great day for a bicycle ride a very enjoyable day on the bike today and I do believe I never mention my saw back once oh apart from just then if you want to see the entire story of this epic ride across France along with plenty more cycling based content
Click on this yellow icon to subscribe and take a look at these two videos to wet the appetite Ooa from lval and we will see you in part 10