RST in the Ardeche, Gard, Lozere & Tarn - France

[Fred A-M]

Just a couple of Pics from recently completed tour of named regions in Southern France.  Starting in Montpellier, finishing in Meyrueis, 330 miles over 6.5 days.  Great sunny weather, though cycling into a fierce northerly wind for most of days 2,3,4.   

Not the toughest tour I've ever done, but included a couple of 1,000m+ climbs and lots of 600m to 800m.  Given I rarely find time to get on the bike these days and I hadn't climbed a single hill of note in the previous 9 months, that was challenge enough.  Hopefully this will have proved good conditioning for a week in the Limousin/Massif Central where I hope to cover more miles if I'm to see everything on my itinerary!


Ardeche Gorge



Cevennes Mountains



Jonte Gorge (Tarn)

[pastafarian]

Looks great Fred! Good thing you managed to include some scenery into the pictures without it obscuring the bike   

Inspiring pictures for those of us who are waiting to get out this summer. What would you say was most memorable about this trip?

[Fred A-M]

Cheers Pastafarian. 

The whole trip was very pleasant though day 4 (Villefort to St Jean de Gard) was probably the most memorable: cycling through extremely secluded mountain forests in the Lozere (one of France's least populated regions).  V v peaceful and beautiful without being overtly spectacular, about away from it all as you could possibly get (on road).   

My preference is for the more remote places rather than proven tourist destinations.  The Tarn (and Jonte) Gorge was spectacular but whilst not completely over-run with tourists, there's probably just enough to encroach on a sense of being out in the wild!

[pastafarian]

Looking at it in Google earth, the roads are winding to say the least 

[Fred A-M]

Pastafarian

Very winding (Corniche de Cevennes excepted) for the most part as days 3 onwards were effectively mountains, certainly by UK standards.  Very enjoyable in that a new viewpoint swings into view with every corner, some great climbs, some great descents.

Just going back to your last post, by contrast, the lowlight in terms of cycling was probably the Ardeche Gorge - lots and lots of traffic - I actually changed route simply because it didn't make enjoyable cycling - one to visit out of season.

South central France is an area of France (a country that I've already covered from coast to coast, East to West, North to South and more) that I intend exploring much more because I'm under the impression there's a vast swathe of unspoilt and relatively tourist free isolated mountain countryside there to discover (Massif Central, Limousin, Lozere) that can only be covered in several trips if it is to be properly explored!

[freddered]

Very jealous.  My parents lived in La Grande Motte (scene of this week's TdF) for 3 years so I've driven around that area, including Tarn.  Some of the hills are tough in a car.

Stunning part of the World.  Perfect maybe.

Not as keen on Limousin area but it's certainly nice and quiet there.

[Fred A-M]

Thanks for your comments Fred

Presumably your less frequent contributions these days are attributable to time spent doing Audax or recovering?  If so, I'm equally envious of the time you are able to spend doing this.

Ref Limousin, I'm expecting a semi-mountainous landscape of rural idyll (again one of the least populated areas of France), but time will tell.  Just in case it does disappoint, I'll be aiming to include at least one day in the Massif Central, heading back to Limousin via Uzerche (Brive). 

Having got my fitness levels back up, I'm particuarly looking forward to this next tour.  I've just this past half hour unpacked some brand new Ortlieb Roller + panniers from their boxes (arrived this morning), which I guess all adds to my sense of anticipation!   

[freddered]

My absence has been mainly due to spending so much time on the YACF forum and riding my old British Eagle more than my Thorn now.  But yes, I've been Audaxing (all on the Brit Eagle).

I shall also be entering the world of fixed gear soon.

I still love the Raven but I use it mainly as a work-horse now, it gets the unglamorous duties.

[jimmer]

Dear Fredred,

A word of caution regarding the future fixed gear. If my experience is anything to go by, the geared bike will become utterly redundent. I've got 2k worth of bike just sitting in the shed all forlorn and neglected since I built up a free cast off Faggin frame from a mate as a fixie. I ride it to work every day and for weekend road blasts. The Catalyst is now reserved for mountain biking, heavy loads and real thrashing wet weather.

Seriously though. Use a front brake, however much you wanna to roll wid da courier n polo cats your quads will thank you for it. Mine were minced after two weeks without, Tektro cross tops saved my lthighs.

Yours, James

[freddered]

Dear Fredred,

A word of caution regarding the future fixed gear. If my experience is anything to go by, the geared bike will become utterly redundent. I've got 2k worth of bike just sitting in the shed all forlorn and neglected since I built up a free cast off Faggin frame from a mate as a fixie. I ride it to work every day and for weekend road blasts. The Catalyst is now reserved for mountain biking, heavy loads and real thrashing wet weather.

Seriously though. Use a front brake, however much you wanna to roll wid da courier n polo cats your quads will thank you for it. Mine were minced after two weeks without, Tektro cross tops saved my lthighs.

Yours, James

I'll be using front and rear brakes as I'm doing a conversion of this bike and I need to be able to restore it back to geared fairly quickly if needed.

[jimmer]

Dear Fredered,

Almost as tasty a bit of lugged steel loveliness as I ride myself. Carbon forks? I’m well aware that this isn’t a fixie forum but... What are you doing about chain tension? They look to be pretty vertical dropouts. Are you going to build a new rear wheel? If so which hub are you planning to use? I built the rear wheel around a Miche fixed free flip-flop (£25) and reused the spokes and Mavic sup rim that came with the bike. My first wheel build of which I am inordinately proud. I put on 17 tooth fixed and bmx freewheel but am going to ditch the freewheel as a waste of time, never use it. I would’ve been better off with a fixed fixed hub with two different sprockets. I use a 42 tooth chain wheel from a Campy Chorus square taper chainset, the 52 tooth is awaiting an unfeasibly huge increase in my strength and fitness.

Yours, James

[Fred A-M]

Gents (Jimmer & Fredered)

I suggest that your contributions are wildly off topic: I don't really see how pictures of fixed gear bikes (to be) and related debate are in anyway related to the thread as they don't relate to Thorn, cycle-touring or the subject heading? 

Cheers

Fred

 

[john28july]

Gents (Jimmer & Fredered)

I suggest that your contributions are wildly off topic: I don't really see how pictures of fixed gear bikes and related debate are in anyway related to the thread as they don't relate to Thorn, cycle-touring or the subject heading? 

Cheers

Fred

 

Calm down! I do agree however.
John.

[Fred A-M]

Calm down! I do agree however.
John.

I'm not unduly excited John.  I just pondered how the said individuals might feel if I started posting pictures and prompting debates entirely erroneous to their threads.  Subsequently, I felt justified in passing comment!

Fred 

[jags]

hi guy's im back i could not get into the forum this past month no idea why,anyway fred glad you had a great tour ,must have been mega hard pushing that loaded bike over those climbs your a better man than me.did you camp all the way you were lucky with the weather i can tell you