Bol d'Or 2019

[robbo]

Ticket bought.
Eurotunnel booked.
1st night campsite booked.
Anyone else going?.

[Red Ceri]

Not this year, but will be in France that weekend

[robbo]

On your new toy, no doubt .

[robbo]

My home for the next few days.

[robbo]

The event has turned into a nightmare and is currently suspended due to the Mistrale conditions. I took the advice of an English bloke living in Grenoble who was camped near me, to up sticks before the weather set in. I got some odd looks at 8 o'clock this morning, but glad  I'm 100 or so miles north now, as the campsite will be really miserable when it's wet and windy. Just means I'm here a day early, but will play tomorrow by ear as the whole of the south will experience heavy rainfall.

[unfazed]

Was watching it on Eurosport, turned out a disaster with the weather.  Saw one accident and the rider after falling aquaplaned across the tarmac for a long time before coming to a stop, thankfully he did not appear to be injured, it was suspended it shortly after as the rain was getting heavier
Robbo you could always go to Assen to the BSB

[robbo]

Assen is a boring ride, better off going by car ....I can't believe I said that . Racing was suspended after 3 hours for 12 hours. Total carnage after restart with a tyre wall catching fire. I'm half way round a lap of Lac Savines at the moment, just stopped for coffee and a warm up. My new Scott Ergo waterproofs are the dogs, and have certainly earned their expense just today.

[robbo]

I must have stopped and taken pics of this piece of rock many times over the last 25 years or so, but have always been amazed by it. Rocks rock. Pont d'Arc in the Gorges de l'Ardeche.

[unfazed]

Shame about the race, but it was the right call to suspend it. Glad to see the weather has improve for your trip back.

[robbo]

Back from my Lap of Lac Savines, 119 miles from the campsite and back. Fortunately the roads were drying on the way back, especially from Seyne les Alpes to Digne les Bains, where I'm staying. This is the D900, 40 kms of biking heaven and some lucky so and so has this as their daily commute. This is my tenth visit to this area, and well worth the boring bits in order to get down here.

[tex]

 Looks a good ride , enjoy

[unfazed]

Back from my Lap of Lac Savines, 119 miles from the campsite and back. Fortunately the roads were drying on the way back, especially from Seyne les Alpes to Digne les Bains, where I'm staying. This is the D900, 40 kms of biking heaven and some lucky so and so has this as their daily commute. This is my tenth visit to this area, and well worth the boring bits in order to get down here.

You would be hard pressed not to enjoy that road 

[kitcrazy]

Looks amazing Pete great pictures 

[robbo]

Torrential rain in the night, but my Khyam Nimbus kept me dry. The weather had caused the lighting to fail in the shower block, so showering by headtorch was certainly a new experience for me. After a hurried baguette/coffee breakfast, it was on the pipe heading for Mont Ventoux. The rain gone making way for sun and blue skies. The ascent from the south east encountered numerous 180° uphill bends, the Fazer getting gunned out of one, hunting down the next. Today must have been "I'm a nutty cyclist who wants to cycle up this" day. Chapeau, hats off to you people.
The descent was a lot less taxing and soon was able to feel the warmth of the sun again as the altitude reduced. A coffee and a chill out was the order of the day at Nyons, before the other highlight of the day, the N94/N994 to Serres. This is 60 kms of almost everything you could wish for in a road. At first I wished I had someone to play with, but by half way I was tiring myself out trying to stay with the invisible man.  What a great stretch of road, you're spoilt for choice if you're into bikes and live anywhere in the general area.
Back at the filling station just down the road from the campsite, the bike took 16.8litres for 194 miles, which my maths made 52mpg which is amazing.
Lubed the chain as soon as I was back at the tent, and with a full tank of gas, it's off to do the Routes des Cretes tomorrow, then Gorge de Verdun and a few beers and a burger in a lovely little roadside food stop overlooking Grasse and the coastline.I've added a few pics, you can see how the traffic gets in your way on the N94.

[robbo]

N94. Last one is Sisteron.

[agricola]

Great pics. Wish id got the courage to do it

[robbo]

Hi Agricola,
It's very easy not to do these sort of trips when none of your pals wants/is able to go with you. It is a bit daunting on your own as you try and cover all sorts of eventualities. One pannier is just for spares, lubes, tools etc, but I'm 73 next week and who knows what's around the corner. As someone said to me a long time ago "We're only here for a visit". I'll keep you posted what's in store for next year .

[unfazed]

Great pics. Wish id got the courage to do it

Agricola,
If you have you been to Scotland, Wales or Ireland on the Bike then wandering around the continent would be a doddle for you.
Only difference is riding on the other side of the road which is actually easier than you think, just remember to ride on the right pass on the left and look left first then right and left again.
Remind yourself of it ater stopping off sonewhere and first thing in the morning.
I am just back from a week in France, with the the missus on the back. Robbo has 10 years on me, but I do not see age as an obstacle and know many who are in there mid sixties who take off when they feel like it.
I'm sure Robbo will agree with me on this 'Just do it, you will never look back'.

[unfazed]

Nice pictures Robbo, great when the weather clears up. Some incredible scenery in the South of France. We were luck on our trip on one damp morning in the whole week.

[Hedgetrimmer]

Love seeing people's tour photos. Especially where mountains are concerned. "Rocks rock" indeed! (thought I was the only weirdo like that  ).
The stretch from Sisteron down to the coast is fantastic, part of the Route Napoleon methinks? Or maybe we were lost when we did it    Nice one Mr. Robbo

[Red Ceri]

I must have stopped and taken pics of this piece of rock many times over the last 25 years or so, but have always been amazed by it. Rocks rock. Pont d'Arc in the Gorges de l'Ardeche.

Remember doing the Gorge back in 83 on my first trip the Bol, couldn't believe the colour and clarity of the water at the time.


We missed most of the bad weather as we were on the boat Saturday night heading home from Santander

[robbo]

Had a long day yesterday,246 miles, doing both sides of the Grand Canyon du Verdun, plus the Routes des Cretes which is in the middle of that, plus getting down to my favourite roadside bar just north of Grasse. They obviously have two Routes des Cretes, the more familiar being in the Vosges. Like having two Dartmoors, one in Devon and the other on Tyneside . Packing up to track back to Le Puy Envelay today. Took shed loads of pics yesterday, but phone charger on the bike has packed up and powerpack juice running low, so will sort them when I get home, which is tomorrow.

[Hedgetrimmer]

Took shed loads of pics yesterday, but phone charger on the bike has packed up and powerpack juice running low, so will sort them when I get home, which is tomorrow.

Looking forward to seeing them 


I'd be interested to see a map of your route for the tour too.

[kitcrazy]

Yep looking forward to seeing more pictures mate.well gel and you put me and my lazy arse to shame good luck to ya pete and keep it up

[robbo]

On the long slog back to Calais. Got about 100 miles to go. Just had a massive lasagne, so that should knock 10mph off my cruising speed . Will sort out some pics, and try and remember where there from asap. Monday to Wednesday's a bit of a blur at the moment.