My next 4 rides head towards Besançon where I have my third and last rest day. I made three stops to spend the night in Saint-Hilaire-le-Château, Peschadoires and Chaneins. The four stages 9, 10, 11 and 12 of my adventure pass through the center of France.
Cycling Adventure 15 (CA15) is my path of personal growth with which I want to inspire people to develop their own path of personal growth in this rapidly changing world.
The environment in the center of France strongly resembles a mix between the Flemish and Walloon Ardennes. Open plains alternate with wooded and hilly environments. I will always remember the beautiful expansive view of the place Belvédère des Ancises. Especially in the morning you get to see beautiful picturesque images.
You pass many charming villages, such as Aubusson and Besançons, which have similarities with villages in Belgium.
I am by nature a person who likes to socialize. That's why I'm glad I can have a good conversation every now and then. Even with Bella the cow I had an extensive and interesting conversation. She was completely in tune with the CA15 concept. And if I don't meet Bella, something else will come my way, like the covered wagons that reminded me of the old days when I was 15 years old. We then spent a week on the coast with a horse and cart with my mother, sister and a few friends.
On my route I met Laurent, a self-employed person in horticulture, when I stepped out of a shop. He started asking questions about my bike. In the end it turned out that he really wanted to go on an adventure and needed a little push.
On arrival in Besançon where I am writing this report, I was received by a very pleasant guy. Benoit works and sleeps in the hotel for 4 months and then goes out into the wide world with his skateboard. He is also thinking of getting around by bicycle. He told me that his next trip is to Cambodia where there are many beautiful hiking and biking trails. I think Benoit inspired me to make it a season one day.
In France you have beautiful roads for cycling everywhere. Compared to Spain, the gradients are more challenging. During my ride 10 from Peschadoires to Chaneins I didn't have it easy. At one point there was a road with gradients of up to 20%. Then the mental willpower comes in handy.
Sometimes I get a higher average speed when the wind is in my favor. And of course the temperature also plays a role. In France I have felt much more moderate temperatures compared to Spain where the temperature rose to 49 degrees. I then needed 18 water bottles a day. Which corresponded to 13 liters of water. In France there are 'only' 8 drinking bottles a day. Fortunately, the thunderstorm did not catch up with me on my way to Besançon.
Cycling long distances for so many days in a row has a serious effect on my body. Good and sufficient sleep is one of the most important elements to recover. That does not always work. At first glance, hotel Thaurion seemed the perfect location until the nostalgic smell met me in the hallway and my bedroom.
I also try to eat enough in the evening. That doesn't work every time, but this was the case again in Chaneins. With the help of Nathalie and her equipped kitchen, I prepared one of my favorite dishes. It spontaneously reminded me of my late father Marcel who many times started preparing spaghetti in the middle of the night after a long meeting.
And then, in addition to the daily chocolate milk, 4 unmissable elements to last that long: water, chamois cream, nivea cream, flexium gel and a trigger ball. Do not forget these things if you are on the bike for a long time. You'll be fine with it.
In the meantime I have covered 2192 kilometers with 26300 altimeters. There are still 3 tough rides to Belgium before I arrive in my home port of Buggenhout on Wednesday 4 August. The last ride I will be accompanied by very good company. My good friend Sven and his girlfriend Nele are driving me home from Saint-Ode. If you are curious where I am cycling, you can follow me in the next few days via my live track.
Some figures from stage 9 (Archiac to Saint-Hilaire-le-Château):
- Maximum temperature: 27° C
- Average temperature: 19° C
- 207 total number of km
- 2804 vertical meters
- 199 average wattage
- 108 average heart rate
- 24 km / h average speed
- 69 km / h maximum speed
- 8:38 am by bike
- 10:24 am on the way
- Burned 6978 Cal
Some figures from stage 10 (Saint-Hilaire-le-Château to Peschadoires):
- Maximum temperature: 37° C
- Average temperature: 23° C
- 154 total number of km
- 1996 vertical meters
- 158 average wattage
- 95 average heart rate
- 20,6 km / h average speed
- 55 km / h maximum speed
- 7:30 am by bike
- 8:58 am on the way
- Burned 4888 Cal
Some figures from stage 11 (Peschadoires to Chaneins):
- Maximum temperature: 35° C
- Average temperature: 22° C
- 168 total number of km
- 2289 vertical meters
- 172 average wattage
- 101 average heart rate
- 21,1 km / h average speed
- 66 km / h maximum speed
- 7:59 am by bike
- 9:39 am on the way
- Burned 5664 Cal
Some figures from stage 12 (Chaneins to Besançons):
- Maximum temperature: 29° C
- Average temperature: 22° C
- 189 total number of km
- 1562 vertical meters
- 165 average wattage
- 90 average heart rate
- 21,8 km / h average speed
- 56 km / h maximum speed
- 8:39 am by bike
- 10:40 am on the way
- Burned 5889 Cal