cycling

Great gardens to wander and watch kestrels hunting for breakfast as we awaited ours in The Royal Saltworks. Such ‘ambience’ just outside my room was ‘magnifique’.

We set off later than usual and with some trepidation. The easy part of the journey has ended. The hundred km yesterday took a lot out of us. Bow, the first day of vertiginous climbing was upon us.

[Read more…] about An Eleventh Day

Last May, I was persuaded to cycle the Beara Ring in Kerry with 4494 people I don’t know by 5 I did. I took all of the carriers and side stands and any excess weight off the bike and also took three kilos from me before the cycle. My total cycling weight was 90 kg carried over 110 km. I even put on slick tyres at 105 psi to reduce rolling resistance. A sportive event, there were food stops and friendly Gardai managing intersections, stopping traffic and pointing the way.

[Read more…] about Day Ten: Saltworks

I’ve become qualified in dejamboning the French vegetarian sandwich and I expect to master the depoulet soon. I’ve been surprised how dehamming creates disproportionate outrage in rural cafes and brasseries. I’ve concluded that since pigs and chickens are vegetarian, they may be locally considered a legitimate ingredient in a vegetarian sandwich. No wonder I’ve upset so many people.

[Read more…] about Day 9: Dehamming

A lot of yesterday was spent talking while cycling two abreast on wide asphalted paths beside the canals. The scale of everything is incredible if you come from the Hibernian Isles. It was hot cycling into the wind and talking isn’t always practical (or safe) so it was good to pass this time together.

[Read more…] about Day 8: Reminiscence

The mortification of our bodies continued on 80 km of canal paths. My mortification was intensified by having to wear ‘not quite dry’ clothes in the chilly early morning. I had made a misguided attempt at spiritual purification by ablution and the evening washing of lycra. I wondered if gel saddles and foam gussets nullified the indulgences achieved by sitting on a moving pole for hour after hour. Then I passed over some asphalt upheavals by tree roots at 22 km/h and was brutally reminded that asceticism is overrated.

[Read more…] about Day 7: Saddle Stylites

Two cathedral city visits, Laon and Reims, may have inspired us to take things a bit more easily.

Watching people barely older than us fail to comprehend coffee machines tells several stories. The dispenser button design was stylish but not intuitive, never practical for high capacity, pensioner tour use. Two jaded cyclgrims watched from afar as female groupthink solved the challenge. The cyclgrims decided to take things a bit more easily. Watch and learn.

[Read more…] about 6: two half days