THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE : GETTING STARTED Sophie Gateau went from bikepacking ‘stagaire’ to an accomplished audaxer and North Cape 4000 finisher in a matter of months. She shares her thoughts on what it takes to get started in the world of adventure cycling. First... You Have To Try You have to put yourself out there, even if you might fail. That’s how we learn. My first experience of bikepacking didn’t go at all as planned. A group of us, all novices in bikepacking and biviouac decided to ride from Paris to Mont-Saint Michel, starting at 7pm in the evening just to heighten the challenge. After only 10 kilometers we were huddled together in a bus shelter, waiting for a downpour to pass. We eventually covered 100kms before picking a bivvy spot on the grass of a small village square. The night was horrendous. We learned that, even in August, the dew makes everything wet. Waking up after 30 minutes’ sleep with 300kms to reach the destination, our motivation failed and we rode to the nearest station to catch a train back to Paris. Practice makes perfect, doesn’t it? Building Your Distance There are no short distances in bikepacking. There are no limits either; but that’s another subject. To begin, all you should do is plan a trip over two days or more, with a reasonable mileage in relation to your own capabilities and fill your bags with enough to survive for the desired length of time. ‘Survive’ being a somewhat exaggerated term, meaning enough to eat, change your clothes (or not) and sleep during the trip. To increase the distances, it’s recommended to build up gradually to ensure you don’t hurt yourself. And for those who hesitate to take the plunge, a route that passes a few train stations will allow you to depart with some peace of mind. Planning Your Route Philippe Pollet-Villard said : « In a journey, it is not the destination that counts but always the roads traveled, and especially the detours ”. Unless you are in a race or performance logic, the best way to ride further and longer is to be blown away. The kilometers pass by themselves and time flies when the road is beautiful. Bad luck or bad preparation leads to head-down staring at the GPS when you find yourself on a big road full of traffic. To prepare a beautiful route, there is no secret, you have to devote time to it. I always use two different programmes to compare options and make choices. With practice, you can spot the small roads quite easily : if there are many corners, it’s a good sign! Think about passing through towns or villages, there is nothing like a coffee break, sandwich or other local specialities to rejuvenate you for the next part of the journey. Testing and Adjusting Your Equipment It seems obvious, but before leaving for several days on your own, it is necessary to have tested your equipment by riding on it, in it and with it. What could me more annoying than to notice along the way that your rain jacket is not as waterproof as you thought or that you really should have taken a headlamp when the dynamo powered light goes out while trying to fix a puncture in the dark and the patches don’t stick to this type of inner tubes. Riding safely is the most important thing. You have to be visible. Always take a back-up for front and rear lighting. We get cold faster when we are tired. Even in the middle of August, I take a down jacket in my luggage (see the introduction of this article for reference…) Just Do It In conclusion, I would say that we all learn from our mistakes. The days are getting longer and the temperature is rising again. Go for it, go on an adventure, and nevermind if it’s not perfect the first time. MORE FROM THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE

THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE : BIKE SET-UP As a Motion Designer, Simon Taulelle has an eye for detail and design. A good rider, therefore, to ask about bikepacking bike set-up. Picking A Frame So many options and not enough patience before you get out there, right? The most important thing to remember is that in bikepacking, you want to go far and if possible not so slowly. It’s all about balance and compromise. First, you have to choose a comfortable bike, i.e. an endurance or gravel bike, not a Tour de France racing machine. For the long hours that await you on the saddle, you will need a much less aggressive geometry. Your frame must be able to support all the saddlebags that you will attach to it. The more you can attach to the frame and the fork, the more chances you have of being able to mount a extra bottle cage or small bags. Finally, comfort also means wide tyres. Favour a frame with a lot of clearance so that you can fit the tyre size of your choice. Some also think about clearance and mounts for mudguards for when the weather turns bad. Wheels & Tyres As with the frame, it's about finding the right balance between performance, comfort and reliability. Forget high-profile aero wheels - those bikepacking bags will cancel any theoretical advantages they offer. Given the variety of terrain you'll be facing, you might as well count on the versatility of a well-built set of wheels that may also include a dynamo hub to power your lights. For a few years now, we have seen a return of the 650b, formerly reserved for the brevet or randonneur bikes. Smaller wheels mean you can fit larger tires to provide more comfort, especially if you intend to venture off the beaten path. Speaking of which, tyres are no minor matter. Again, wider and more durable are the recommended options for peace of mind against punctures. A tubeless setup (without inner tube) will offer you much better protection and you will also gain comfort and rolling resistance. Gearing It's faster to be slow! A loaded bike is a heavier bike. So you'll need a bigger ratio to make the climbs go smoothly. It's not a surprise that we find more and more mountain bike cassettes on bikepacking bikes. Whether you're on a single or double chainring, it's very important not to underestimate the terrain but above all the extra weight you're going to have to carry. In short, as the saying goes: "he who wants to go far, spares his mount and his knees". Saddle It is a world-renowned fact in cycling that there is only one saddle for each butt. With this in mind, the primary advice is to choose a saddle that you feel comfortable with. After that most important tip, the top of the range saddles tends to remove a lot of padding to save a few grams. So don't hesitate to go back down a little in the range to benefit from more comfortable padding. Also strongly consider "open" or “cut-out” saddles for as much pressure relief as possible. Lighting Today, there are two main types of illumination. The first solution is a dynamo hub. This is the best solution for riding through the night or on short winter days. Some lights even give you the possibility to charge your phone or GPS while riding. The weight penalty of a dynamo hub will be won back in peace of mind, knowing that you are recharging your batteries with the strength of your legs. Autonomy at its peak. The second solution is to use lamps that you will recharge via an external battery. This is less expensive than a wheel with a dynamo hub, but as payoff, you will have to be more disciplined in keeping them charged. A good solution is to have two sets of lights. Firstly as a backup in case one breaks, but also to alternate the use and loading times. While one light is charging, the other is lighting the road. Easy. Bikepacking Bags The major innovation of the last few years is undoubtedly the arrival of specific bikepacking bags. Waterproof or not, made to measure or not, reflective or in all colours, with or without racks, etc.. A seatpack, frame bag and handlebar bag are the three essentials that should be in your collection, ready for action whether it be a micro-adventure or full on transcontinental. All come in various shapes and sizes, but most important is to make sure they fit your frame and handlebars well. A badly fitted seatpack will wag like a dog’s tail and a handlebar bag too wide will be impossible to access quickly and may interfere with gear shifting. You should consider also how easy your bags allow access to their contents. It’s also a matter of packing but, for example, handlebar packs that have top opening access can be very useful on longer trips. Once you’ve got your three essential bags, many manufacturers offer smaller add-ons to increase capacity and flexibility throughout a big adventure and are also useful on your routine week rides. Brands we have used and recommend are Helmut Equipement, Cordel, Apidura, Restrap and Ortlieb. MORE FROM THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE

THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE : ROUTE PLANNING Route planning is the starting point that will make the adventure real, allow you to imagine the road ahead and begin to establish your route plan. How many kilometres per day, where to sleep, which will be the hardest sections, where to eat, and more. Matthieu Lifschitz takes us through his route planning considerations. Paper AND Digital Paper maps are definitely still current and very much enjoyed by bikepackers. The charm of a large unfolded map or even better, a relief map to help comprehend the elevation to be encountered, remains a good method to have a larger view of the route. Of course, today specific tools are available to plan and upload entire routes to your GPS. The best-known applications are Strava, Komoot, Open Runner and Ride With GPS. I use two of them : Komoot and Ride With GPS, and once the route has been established I check it with street view on Google Maps to see the reality of the terrain. Komoot is the most intuitive, the ease of plotting the route from point A to point B is incredible. There is a lot of information available on the different surfaces and types of roads, but nobody is perfect and Komoot sometimes automatically takes routes that are too rough. The counter-balance is Ride With GPS. Although less modern in its design and functionality, the varied background maps of this application and, conversely, its tendency to take you on big roads, will help you find the right balance according to the desired adventure. The Choice Of Road The choice of road depends on the objective. The smallest and the unpaved roads are mainly reserved for relaxed randonées, adventures where you have time to explore and space in your bags to take food and all the sleeping equipment you need. Taking big roads is dangerous, stressful, and will eventually tire you out faster than you might think. If a notion of performance comes into your adventure, there is a middle ground. The minor backroads of many countries are safe and still provide a good surface to maintain speed. Plus they cross towns where you can find the usual services : restaurants, grocery stores, small hotels that take last minute bookings, or shelters to set up your bivy : a bus stop, the forecourt of a church, or a school playground. Be aware that the fastest parcours is not necessarily the straightest. A detour of 30km is worth it if it means you avoid a high mountain pass or an extended gravel section. Food Stops No matter what meal, time of day, or state of hunger you might be in, it is necessary to anticipate well in advance. In France for example, in the most remote regions, most places only stay open for lunch between 1pm and 4pm. For breakfast it’s the same, don’t expect to find coffee and croissants every time you stop. Always be a little ahead by keeping a stock of food on the bike - some cereal bars or half of your last sandwich in a pocket has saved many bikepackers several times. A top tip has to be the bikepacker’s best ally - the petrol station. Long opening hours, fast service directly at the cash desk, refrigerators full of drinks and snacks, spare batteries for a headlamp, toilets, etc.. You’ll grow to love them. Sleep Stops If the adventure is wild and without time limits, ultralight tents will allow you to stop anywhere in the wilderness and enjoy the calm. If you are taking part in a challenge or a bikepacking race a bivy set-up as light and compact as possible is the solution. Remember, small roads = few shelters but guaranteed tranquility. Big roads = many possibilities but more exposure. On events ranging from 2000 to 4000km, some people choose to always sleep outside but most will plan for a hotel a couple of times throughout the event to help recovery, wash clothing, and generally rejuvenate themselves. Following The Route On The Road Once your route has been established, all you have to do is transfer it to your GPS. A whole host of more or less reliable solutions exist. The choices are very personal but experience suggests you should focus your choices on simplicity and robustness. Garmin and Wahoo lead the market and have a range of computers with different options of functionality. Rather than cutting your route into smaller segments, it is beneficial to have the full version on your computer in front of you. This allows you to manage your effort whilst having a permanent vision of what remains to be done to reach your target. Getting Lost Despite all the planning, checking, and double-checking, the strong likelihood is that you will still get lost. Don’t panic, finding a solution to each problem is part of the adventure. This is where smartphones are useful back-ups to GPS computers. Via the mobile apps, you can download your maps and access them even when you have no service – perfect when you find yourself looking for alternative roads and get-out-of-jail options. But try not to become 100% dependent on what’s on the screen. Lift your head, read the sign posts, the sky, the mountains. And if all your equipment breaks down, just go straight ahead, the adventure starts here…. MORE FROM THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE

THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE : WHAT TO PACK The balance of limited space and providing for all eventualities on the road is a difficult one. Simon Talulelle shares his essentials based on three types of bikepacking trip. Packing your bikepacking bags is, once again, a story of compromise and sacrifice that depends entirely on the type of trip you are going on. The global objective is to only carry what is truly essential for your adventure. In what is a wide-ranging discipline, we’ve identified three different types of trips, each one unique enough to influence your choice of equipment. Of course, these lists are an indicative starting point for you to adjust accordingly based on your individual needs taking into consideration such as the length of your trip, the terrain to be covered, etc. Top tip: for clothing we would always advise that you include as many merino items as possible. The fabric breaths, drys, and doesn’t hold bad smells, even after many days in the saddle.   THE CREDIT CARD SETUP If you intend to sleep in hostels or hotels, you can travel lighter. A minimum amount of bags wih a change of clothing for the evening and some over-night supplies should be enough. ‘For everything else, there’s Mastercard!’. ON THE BIKE Short sleeve jersey – Bibshorts – Long sleeve jersey – Wind Jacket – Rain Jacket – Neckwarmer – Gloves – Shoes – Socks – Helmet - Sunglasses OFF THE BIKE Toothbrush – Toothpaste – Soap – Towel – Shorts – Shirt – Bank Card – Passport - Cash DEVICES Telephone – Telephone Charger – GPS – GPS Charger – Lights – Power Bank TOOLS Multitool – Pump – CO2 Canisters – Spare Tube – Tubeless Puncture Repair Kit – Patch Kit – Anti-Puncture Tube Sealant – Tyre Plugs – Small Bottle Lubricant – Tyre Levers – Cloth – Rear Mech Hanger – Chain Links – Scotch Tape – Brake Pads FOOD Bars – Dried Fruit - Gels     THE AUDAX SETUP If you have the intention to line up for long-distance challenges, you need to make some provision for comfort. Here, a tent is optional – often a sleeping bag and a bivy bag will do the job. Pack what is necessary for riding and for surviving autonomously outdoors, both day and night. Top tip : for this type of adventure if you hesitate to pack something, you probably do not need it! Some people go further an apply the following logic : every item carried must have at least two uses. For example, a combination of primaloft jacket and primaloft trousers could replace your sleeping bag whilst also being normal wear when not riding. ON THE BIKE Short sleeve jersey – Bibshorts – Long sleeve jersey – Wind Jacket – Rain Jacket – - Rain Trousers - Neckwarmer – Gloves – Shoes – Socks – Shoe Covers - Helmet - Sunglasses OFF THE BIKE Toothbrush – Toothpaste – Soap – Towel – Shorts – T-Shirt – Musette - Bank Card – Passport – Cash – Sun Cream – Lip Balm - Ibuprofen BIVY KIT Sleeping Bag – Inflatable Mattress – Pillow – Bivy Bag - Wool Hat / Beanie DEVICES Telephone – Telephone Charger – GPS – GPS Charger – Lights – Power Bank - Headphones TOOLS Multitool – Pump – CO2 Canisters – Spare Tube – Tubeless Puncture Repair Kit – Patch Kit – Anti-Puncture Tube Sealant – Tyre Plugs – Small Bottle Lubricant – Tyre Levers – Cloth – Rear Mech Hanger – Chain Links – Scotch Tape – Brake Pads FOOD Bars – Dried Fruit – Gels – Caffeine Tablets   THE 'BED & BREAKFAST' SETUP Here are talking about complete autonomy. No time limits or competition. In this configuration, to carry what you need to sleep, eat, drink and dress yourself (sometimes for the cold), you need to utilise every square centimetre of your bike – the frame to the fork via the handlebars, the top tube and yes also….you’ll drink with joy from the tin mug attached to your saddlebag. Therefore it is pleasure and leisure that wins over speed, but be aware that by cleverly choosing good quality, space-saving equipment, you will travel comfortably and at a reasonable speed with all the fun and after-bike activity that you’ve provided for. Top tip : you will need a lot of water for both pedalling and cooking. Think about adding one or two extra bidons on your bike. ON THE BIKE Short sleeve jersey – Bibshorts – Long sleeve jersey – Wind Jacket – Rain Jacket – - Rain Trousers - Neckwarmer – Gloves – Shoes – Socks – Shoe Covers - Helmet - Sunglasses OFF THE BIKE Toothbrush – Toothpaste – Soap – Towel – Shorts – T-Shirt – Musette - Bank Card – Passport – Cash – Sun Cream – Lip Balm – Ibuprofen – Journal / Notebook BIVY KIT Tent – Tarpaulin – Sleeping Bag – Inflatable Mattress – Pillow – Bivy Bag – Wool Hat/Beanie – Warm Clothes – Sandals/Flip-flops – Lighter – Pocket knife DEVICES Telephone – Telephone Charger – GPS – GPS Charger – Lights – Power Bank – Camera – Portable Speaker TOOLS Multitool – Pump – CO2 Canisters – Spare Tube – Tubeless Puncture Repair Kit – Patch Kit – Anti-Puncture Tube Sealant – Tyre Plugs – Small Bottle Lubricant – Tyre Levers – Cloth – Rear Mech Hanger – Chain Links – Scotch Tape – Brake Pads FOOD Food purchased on the road - Freeze-dried Foodbags - Fruit - Bars - Dried Fruit - Coffee - Coffee Filter - Stove – Cooking Pot - Gas - Knife - Spork - Mug - Hipflask filled with you favorite liquor Now all you have to do is load all this equipment in your panniers..... When packing, keep in mind that things like a rain jacket or a neck warmer might be needed quickly during the ride. If you do not want to find yourself scattering the contents of your seat pack during a big downpour, be smart about the way you arrange the kit in your bag and keep what you could use on the bike at hand! MORE FROM THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE

LIFETIME VIEWS Adventures make memories. It’s not just the road in front but the incidentals, the details, and the life you find along the way. 

ROADS TO DREAM OF Bikepacking is about living for the road, and whilst all roads serve the purpose some stand above others. These are the roads that create more than just endorphins.  

WHAT IS BIKEPACKING? Long-term long-distance rider Manivelle.cc digs into the memories of all his cycling adventures to try and distill an answer to a rather wide-ranging question : what is bikepacking? A FORM OF MINIMALIST AUTONOMY Bikepacking is loading your bike with some luggage in order to carry the necessary equipment for a cycling adventure What fundamentally differentiates ‘bikepacking’ from ‘cycle touring’ is a kind of self-censorship, a voluntary restriction on the amount of stuff you carry in order to keep a sporting dimension to your setup. Despite this minimalist approach, the main objective is to be autonomous. Self-supported. To be independent and choose when and where to ride without worrying about the time or the place. As much as possible, to be able to meet your needs in day time and night time; to wrap yourself up or to peel off the layers depending on the weather, to set up a camp for the night with simple bivy or pitch an ultralight tent. THE ART OF GETTING THERE The destination only becomes a pretext, an exotic point that will mark the end. Everything that happens in bikepacking is in the adventure that will link your departure to the final destination. The goal is far less important than the art of getting there. Leaving for a day or a week, we equip ourselves to feel free on the road, detached from obligations and from time. To be in real freedom of movement. Learning to create a route, a path towards the unknown, is in fact trying to get to know yourself. Having the freedom to try a detour by this or that high mountain pass, deciding the pace you like, knowing how to push on when it is necessary and save energy when it is not, without any constraints other than those that you have fixed on yourself. In almost all cases, the common point with a personal adventure will be the freedom to create your own route and to apply all the solutions that you will have found during your own experiences eventually for the benefit of a more sporting challenge. It can be a formal event or a self-made objective. Either way it is one which combines the passing of your physical limits and the poetic adventure of travel. MORE FROM THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE

SUR LA TERRASSE "In spite of ourselves We’ll end up a’sittin’ on a rainbow." John Prine In normal circumstances, Ali is a lone rider. Ironically, confinement and the Elevation Coaching group Zwift rides have him racing cyclists from Israel and joining old club mates for the first time in six years. Workout #4 is a fasted pre-breakfast session to help manage weight, because working from home and being close to the kitchen supplies can crack the strongest of wills. Include this session once a week in spite of your chocolate-eating self. Download the relevant workout file below : .PDF.FIT (heart rate).FIT (power).ZWO.ERG THE FUTURE WILL BE LONG NORTH CAPE 4000 We’re all longing for long-distance cycling right now. Sophie Gateau’s account of last year’s North Cape 4000 is a tease. TO THE END OF EUROPE 40’s CX IN PARIS The streets of Montmartre might be empty now, but for a few days in the late 40’s they were taken over by cycling’s finest for urban cyclocross. This video is worth watching. CROSS LIKE NEVER SINCE SUNNIES STYLED Framed with vision in collaboration with Article One, our lunettes are hand made in Italy, built for the road and designed for every occasion. SUNGLASSES CAP IT OFF Cycling caps for every taste from poker style, light lightweights, the animal series and those badged for our famous cols. CASQUETTES

BALCONY VIEWS "In a word: PERSIST." Austin Madison In-house photographer, Morgane, is outside but within the confines. This is balcony life with her Wahoo Kickr. If you'd invested in a smart trainer you are probably getting good value for your money right now. Each of the workouts from experts Elevation Coaching is downloadable in Zwift and ERG formats so that you can upload them and let the trainer guide you through it. Workout #3 is a bit harder than the previous two, switching between just under to just over aerobic threshold. Stick with it, persistence pays. Download the relevant workout file below : .PDF.FIT (heart rate).FIT (power).ZWO.ERG AS SOON AS WE CAN CLIMBING COLS & DROPPING LINES To fish is to be in nature, to stay in nature and to try to understand nature. Riding to the river for the love of the outdoors. ANOTHER REASON TO RIDE Cycling In Kodachrome When Hinault was Le Patron and headbands were still in fashion. The 1982 Tour de France captured on glorious colour film by Magnum photographer Harry Gruyaert. The Peloton In Colour SLEEVELESS WONDERS Almost as important as a spare tube, a lightweight packable gilet keeps your core protected when the sun is low or the wind blows a chill. WOMEN'S GILETS BODY HEAT For warm-ups, cool downs, chill(y) rides and big descents. Cut the wind out and keep the heat in with a gilet from the collection. MEN'S GILETS

INSIDE LOOKING OUT "May we all get better together" Charles Bukowski This is our co-founder, Rémi's simple indoor set-up. No Zwift, no sensors, just a view over Nice Port and the motivation to get back out there. If you haven't done it for a while, the home trainer takes a bit of getting used to again. What is for sure is that straight blocks of the same thing become monotonous very quickly. So here is Café du Cycliste x Elevation Coaching Workout #2 to keep you entertained. Download the relevant workout file below : .PDF.FIT (heart rate).FIT (power).ZWO.ERG STAY INSPIRED ZINZINS The festival of craziness on the Col de Turini. Three sides, three climbs, one mountain and a heap of fun. Here's to the next one. THREE TIMES TURINI BREAKING AWAY Regularly cited as one the best mainstream movies with a cycling theme, Breaking Away is about optimism, realism and riding. Perfect viewing then. FEEL GOOD FILM ESSENTIAL SHORTS Sitting comfortably and looking after your legs are fundamentals of our sport. So the correct bib shorts are essential. WOMEN'S BIB SHORTS SHORT ESSENTIALS Detailed design from the shape and density of the chamois, the placement of stitching, the number of panels, the grippers and the mesh on the bibs. French style, global quality. MEN'S BIB SHORTS

INDOORS IS THE NEW OUTDOORS “Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up on Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness” E.B. White Routine brings a semblance of normality, exercise delivers endorphins, being on the bike triggers memories of past rides and dreams of the next one. Many now have the sole option of training indoors. As an aid and to give variation to each week we’re offering a free downloadable workout provided by experts, Elevation Coaching . With file options to cover almost any set-up and descriptions to fit everyone from those who ride on feel to those who rely on tech, try something new whilst spinning at home. And wind the clock. Download the relevant file below: .PDF.FIT (heart rate).FIT (power).ZWO.ERG HELLO HELLO A BEAUTIFUL BEAST There is valid reason to dip into the archives and relive the best of times to inspire us for future adventures. Torino-Nice Rally is one of the best celebrations of the great outdoors and the freedom adventure cycling delivers, but it also packs a punch. Take a trip back to the wild side and life above 2,000m - READ THE STORY READING MATERIAL Looking for non-screen entertainment? Exercise your mind’s eye with the seminal work that delivers the racer’s racing point of view. Tim Krabbe’s ‘THE RIDER’ is an essential for every discerning velocipede. Get it here STILL ON THE ROAD The SS20 Collection is here. From striking Francine stripes to colourful Marinette bibs, Spring is sprung with new colours and fresh designs. VIEW THE COLLECTION ROLLING ON From faded Fleurettes, to léger Michelines and long-distance Mona and Monique. Find a jersey for any kind of ride and match it with a range of colourful bib shorts fitted with premium female-specific chamois. VIEW THE COLLECTION

GRAVEL RIDES ON MALLORCA – SINEU TO THE MOUNTAINS They say that Sineu delivers solitude. That rings a bell for every adventure cyclist so it’s a good place to start this ride. On top of that there’s a velodrome close by if you want to spin some laps on your gravel steed. After leaving town, enjoy the flat roads past horse ranches before hitting the mountains. Literally on the other side of the (train) tracks near Lloseta the climbing begins. There’s a hidden bit of single-track on the route which may involve hike-a-bike. The concrete road introduces some switchbacks to the ride but the road ends and you’ll have to shoulder your bike once more if you want to visit the Castell d’Alaró. It doubles up as a hostel and mountain refuge if you fancy a night in the mountains. Otherwise, enjoy the descent and ride through orchards before hitting the flat back to Sineu. key kit Beatrice is a gravel tank jersey for when the going gets rough and the weather gets hot. A new form that joins the gravel cycling clothing collection to offer as much variation as the rides themselves. VIEW THE JERSEY RIDE INSIGHTS The ride begins with smooth gravel but becomes rougher and rougher as it hits the foothills of the mountains. There will be hike-a-bike. Roughness rating : 7 / 10. VIEW ON STRAVA 1 - THE ROUTE DOWNLOAD GPX Please login or create an account to download file. 2 - RENT AND RIDE Travel light and book your bike. Via our partners, Bikecamp, just as in Nice, you can rent the Cervélo Aspéro to provide the best equipment for exploring Mallorca's gravel routes. Tours are also available for those who prefer to concentrate on pushing on the pedals and looking at the landscapes. VISIT BIKECAMP 3 - THE STORE Located in Palma's Plaça del Rosari, our Mallorca store is 15 minutes’ drive from the airport and 40 minutes’ ride from the Coll de Sa Creu. In-store you’ll find the full Café du Cycliste collection, a quality coffee, a big screen to watch the races and friendly faces to recommend rides and restaurants alike. You can find us at: Plaça del Rosarí 5, 07001, Palma mallorca gravel Tiny lanes lined by dry-stone walls, farm-tracks, ancient routes and rocky climbs. Mallorca's g-side is as varied as it is beautiful. From Sand To Dust From the beach, through the marshes, to the fields of rural interior Mallorca. A gravel ride that delivers a slice of local life. VIEW THE RIDE On The Inca Trail A loop right in the heart of the island, finishing with rolling hills that lead to a medieval village. VIEW THE RIDE GRAVEL LOOKBOOK Get inspired by a Lookbook of snapshots and side-views from Mallorca's loose side. VIEW THE LOOKBOOK WHAT IS GRAVEL? Answering what gravel cycling is can also explain why gravel cycling exists. And why you should try it. LOOSE ANSWERS MORE GRAVEL, MORE MALLORCA? If Mallorca's rough stuff got you hooked, plan your next trip on Riviera Gravel and discover the roads less ridden of the Alpes-Maritimes. RIVIERA GRAVEL Time to switch to the smooth side? Find the best road cycling routes and some hidden gems with our guide to the Island Mallorca Ride Guide Somewhere between the sea and the sky, the fresh air and the deep blue. The flying fish badge is placed on pieces built for riding off the beaten track. SHOP THE COLLECTION

GRAVEL RIDES ON MALLORCA – ON THE INCA TRAIL In the shadows of the Tramnuntana, Inca is Mallorca’s third-largest town and is situated nearly in the middle of the Island. The ride heads south to the flat and traverses the traditional village of Llubí before circling around to face the mountains, where you will find rolling hills and signposts to the finish. Do this ride on a Thursday and you can finish at the local market in Inca, where leather is the specialty. Or, of course, you could just grab a cerveza. key kit Virginie are gravel shorts, designed to ride routes less ridden. With rear and side cargo pockets integrated into a four-way stretch fabric, carry all you need to ride the rough stuff. VIEW THE SHORTS RIDE INSIGHTS The off-road sections of this ride vary from smooth gravel, to mud to stoney half-laid lanes. But gravel cycling is also about the quiet roads and on this ride, you'll find yourself in a labyrinth of lanes lined by dry stone walls and surrounded by orchards. Roughness rating 6/10. VIEW ON STRAVA 1 - THE ROUTE DOWNLOAD GPX Please login or create an account to download file. 2 - RENT AND RIDE Travel light and book your bike. Via our partners, Bikecamp, just as in Nice, you can rent the Cervélo Aspéro to provide the best equipment for exploring Mallorca's gravel routes. Tours are also available for those who prefer to concentrate on pushing on the pedals and looking at the landscapes. VISIT BIKECAMP 3 - THE STORE Located in Palma's Plaça del Rosari, our Mallorca store is 15 minutes’ drive from the airport and 40 minutes’ ride from the Coll de Sa Creu. In-store you’ll find the full Café du Cycliste collection, a quality coffee, a big screen to watch the races and friendly faces to recommend rides and restaurants alike. You can find us at: Plaça del Rosarí 5, 07001, Palma mallorca gravel Tiny lanes lined by dry-stone walls, farm-tracks, ancient routes and rocky climbs. Mallorca's g-side is as varied as it is beautiful. From Sand To Dust From the beach, through the marshes, to the fields of rural interior Mallorca. A gravel ride that delivers a slice of local life. VIEW THE RIDE Sineu To The Mountains From the solitude of Sineu into the Tramnuntana mountains. VIEW THE RIDE GRAVEL LOOKBOOK Get inspired by a Lookbook of snapshots and side-views from Mallorca's loose side. VIEW THE LOOKBOOK WHAT IS GRAVEL? Answering what gravel cycling is can also explain why gravel cycling exists. And why you should try it. LOOSE ANSWERS MORE GRAVEL, MORE MALLORCA? If Mallorca's rough stuff got you hooked, plan your next trip on Riviera Gravel and discover the roads less ridden of the Alpes-Maritimes. RIVIERA GRAVEL Time to switch to the smooth side? Find the best road cycling routes and some hidden gems with our guide to the Island Mallorca Ride Guide Somewhere between the sea and the sky, the fresh air and the deep blue. The flying fish badge is placed on pieces built for riding off the beaten track. SHOP THE COLLECTION

WHERE TO RIDE ON MALLORCA – FEMENIA & SA CALOBRA If cycling climbs were celebrities, Sa Calobra would have Hollywood A-list status. No matter what you’ve heard from friends or seen online, nothing can replace viewing it with your own eyes and riding it with your own legs. From Pollença you get to warm up on the smooth slopes of the Coll de Femenia. From there the road winds its way in and out and up and down the ridges of Tramuntana mountains towards your Mallorcan cycling destiny…. There is a left hand corner with a view point over a solid mass of limestone rock that is so abundant it’s unforgettable. Somewhere behind that, in amongst all the rock, is the road engineering genius that is the Sa Calobra climb. Pass under the viaduct, laugh at the ‘KM0’ road marker and climb the 2.5km of the Coll del Reis before plunging to the sea to do ‘the bounce’ back up again. It’s a good tactic to refuel and refresh in the Port before you start the climb. Savour every metre and welcome the ease in gradient on each and every one of the multiple hairpins as you make your way up to the famous ‘noose’. key kit The likelihood is that it will be hot and you will get seduced into an effort on Sa Calobra. Wear a lightweight Cecilia cycling base layer to wick the sweat and regulate temperature, whether your jersey is opened or closed. VIEW THE BASE LAYER RIDE INSIGHTS Discover the history of Mallorca cycling's most famous destination climb and be thankful for Parietti’s road engineering genius. FIND OUT MORE 1 - THE ROUTE DOWNLOAD GPX Please login or create an account to download file. 2 - RENT AND RIDE Travel light and book your bike. Via our partners, Bikecamp, just as in Nice, you can choose from the latest range of Cervélo bikes to provide the best equipment for exploring the Island. Tours are also available for those who prefer to concentrate on pushing on the pedals and looking at the landscapes. VISIT BIKECAMP 3 - THE STORE Located in Palma's Plaça del Rosari, our Mallorca store is 15 minutes’ drive from the airport and 40 minutes’ ride from the Coll de Sa Creu. In-store you’ll find the full Café du Cycliste collection, a quality coffee, a big screen to watch the races and friendly faces to recommend rides and restaurants alike. You can find us at: Plaça del Rosarí 5, 07001, Palma other rides Sunshine, solid climbs, perfectly engineered roads, the Mediterranean and a local community tuned into the needs of the visiting cyclist. The North Coast There may be no big names on this ride, but it’s a not-so-secret hidden gem and one of the best stretches of coast road you will ever set wheels and eyes on. VIEW THE RIDE Soller & Valldemossa Escape the city, scale the mountain, savour the scenery. Coll de Sóller delivers a strong challenge in the middle of a great loop starting and finishing in Palma. VIEW THE RIDE To The Lighthouse Maybe the pièce de resistance of Mallorcan road engineering. An out-and-back ride like no other, plan it for sunset on the way back for some unforgettable Mallorcan cycling. VIEW THE RIDE Femenia & Sa Battla A flowing ride from Pollença that allows you to find your own rhythm despite the hilly terrain. Make sure and stop at the bike friendly café on Coll de sa Battla. VIEW THE RIDE Sa Creu & Galilea A short sharp loop from Palma city that quickly gets you onto quiet roads. A staff pick from the Palma store. VIEW THE RIDE A SA CALOBRA CELEBRATION Sa Calobra leaves a lasting memory. Celebrate your connection with the climb via the badged t-shirt and cap created in hommage to 'la cobra'. T-Shirts FOR HIM & FOR HER SHOP THE CAP Mallorca's most famous climb is also one of the most finely-laid ribbons of tarmac in Europe. As recognition of this, it was the first entry in our Montagnes du Monde global badge series. If you've ridden it, receive your badge reward by entering your ride details. HOW TO CLAIM A BADGE

GRAVEL RIDES ON MALLORCA – FROM SAND TO DUST Starting in a National Park is always a good indication of a ride. Just south of Alcudia is the Parque Natural d’Albufera where the birds migrate to the Island just like cyclists from Northern Europe. Exiting the park gets you into the agricultural lanes, whether they be paved but tiny between stone walls or unpaved with grass down the middle. The town of Muro features on this ride – French and Italian cyclists might recognise that word as meaning ‘wall’, and indeed in Spanish it is no different. But on this flat ride into the rural interior, you’ll only find the classic sandstone Mallorcan walls. Count the windmills which mark the more traditional way of life that is not long lost. Rumour has it that some of the best of the Island’s Syrah wine is made near here…. key kit Designed specifically for riding on gravel and the loose stuff, the three-quarter sleeves and looser fit of our Barbara cycling jersey let the air circulate when it gets hot on the plains. VIEW THE JERSEY RIDE INSIGHTS Part of the joy of riding gravel is you're never quite sure what'll you'll find. Here, the gravel is relatively smooth with few rocky places to upset your bike handling but be warned, if it has rained recently it can get muddy quickly. Roughness rating 5/10. VIEW ON STRAVA 1 - THE ROUTE DOWNLOAD GPX Please login or create an account to download file. 2 - RENT AND RIDE Travel light and book your bike. Via our partners, Bikecamp, just as in Nice, you can rent the Cervélo Aspéro to provide the best equipment for exploring Mallorca's gravel routes. Tours are also available for those who prefer to concentrate on pushing on the pedals and looking at the landscapes. VISIT BIKECAMP 3 - THE STORE Located in Palma's Plaça del Rosari, our Mallorca store is 15 minutes’ drive from the airport and 40 minutes’ ride from the Coll de Sa Creu. In-store you’ll find the full Café du Cycliste collection, a quality coffee, a big screen to watch the races and friendly faces to recommend rides and restaurants alike. You can find us at: Plaça del Rosarí 5, 07001, Palma mallorca gravel Tiny lanes lined by dry-stone walls, farm-tracks, ancient routes and rocky climbs. Mallorca's g-side is as varied as it is beautiful. The Inca Trail A loop right in the heart of the Island, finishing with rolling hills that lead to a medieval village. VIEW THE RIDE Sineu To The Mountains From the solitude of Sineu into the Tramnuntana mountains. VIEW THE RIDE GRAVEL LOOKBOOK Get inspired by a Lookbook of snapshots and side-views from Mallorca's loose side. VIEW THE LOOKBOOK WHAT IS GRAVEL? Answering what gravel cycling is can also explain why gravel cycling exists. And why you should try it. LOOSE ANSWERS MORE GRAVEL, MORE MALLORCA? If Mallorca's rough stuff got you hooked, plan your next trip on Riviera Gravel and discover the roads less ridden of the Alpes-Maritimes. RIVIERA GRAVEL Time to switch to the smooth side? Find the best road cycling routes and some hidden gems with our guide to the Island Mallorca Ride Guide Somewhere between the sea and the sky, the fresh air and the deep blue. The flying fish badge is placed on pieces built for riding off the beaten track. SHOP THE COLLECTION

Col de Braus By All Roads One mountain, multiple choices. Riding the Col de Braus in December. Sometimes when faced with a black and white choice between two options, the best solution is to ignore the binary restraints of the question and take both. Spring or Autumn? Both. Single ring or double-crankset? Both. Day ride or night ride? Both. Col de Braus by gravel or road? Both. This is perhaps the mindset of the evergreen cyclist. There are 365 days in the year so things would quickly become monotonous if the same roads were ridden on the same bike day in day out. Variation and all that... As deep autumn becomes early winter, the weather changes its opinion every hour (at least in the back-country) and the days get shorter, having a certain adaptability plays to your advantage. Keeping your options open means you can keep riding and keep fit and keep on keeping on. Gravel is good when conditions are wet and / or windy. Routes forestières offer their canopies for shelter. And of course, in autumn those canopies are looking their multi-coloured best. The mountains are seemingly even more peaceful, with the crunch of knobbly tyres rolling over the stones below being the only audible noise. This is when the summer exploration and route finding pays off - you already know the loop from Sospel, up the Chemin de Paraïs to the Col de Braus and can focus on the job at hand rather than worrying about getting lost or being late for that daube de sanglier that's waiting on the stove. The loose switchbacks offer a fresh perspective, a sense of mini-adventure and at this time of year it's as if the only other life here is whatever wildlife is seeking heat and shelter in the undergrowth. The chemins also require not insignificant effort - just ask anyone who has climbed a col on the rough stuff. It has been argued that one hour on gravel equals three on the road. That is not to say the road is the easy option, of course. It's a question of how much coal you put on the fire. In late November that may depend on personal objectives. Are you thinking of L’Étape du Tour 2020? Intervals on the 10km climb of Braus from L’Escarène will form a good base. What is for sure is that, at this time of year, there is solitude to be found on the surfaced roads. The groups of touring motos, classic car rallies, and camping cars are gone, leaving the year-round cyclist almost completely alone. The 1,002m summit of the Col de Braus is the unofficial ceiling of cold season riding on the Côte d'Azur, but you can go higher if mother nature is on your side on the day you choose to take the smoother option. If legs and skies allow, the local secret is to take a left before the summit of Col de Braus. It's a 'link road' to the western side of the Col de Turini that ticks off another two cols - Ablé and Orme - for those who are counting the notches on their seatposts...The question when you get to the other side is whether a full Turini is possible. At 1,607m things can get icy up top at this time of year. Whatever your choice, what is sure is that the current season tends to be a time when most cyclists mix up their routine and their cycling disciplines, especially those who cannot or will not stay indoors on a home trainer. Despite its sunny reputation, autumn and winter riding in the Alpes-Maritimes is some of the most rewarding me-time you can get, on smooth roads or loose tracks. There is a reason it's referred to as a playground. Pick your option for some winter Riviera riding from the surfaced cols of Nos Montagnes à la Carte or the double tracks of Riviera Gravel. Or, of course, both.

Born To Ride - Les Citadelles Born To Ride is Chilkoot’s gold standard annual ‘big one’. Like a mini-TCR that traverses a smaller part of western Europe, the name tag speaks about its participants almost as much as their riding does. PCR Gravier members Simon and Arthur decided it was time to commit and test their ability to keep on keeping on. Last October Arthur and I we decided to join the famous Chilkoot Born To Ride Adventure. Entries sold like hot cakes and we didn't really take the time to consider if it was a good idea or collective suicide. We only knew that it was a solid but not insurmountable challenge, that the road would be beautiful, the views breathtaking and the sun would shine. Oh wait! 'Knock Knock Knock -Who’s there? -Me llamo Miguel, the storm! -Oh sh*t...” 1- THE NIGHT Everything starts at night time in the citadel of Montmedy. It's almost 10pm. Men, women and bikes are sharpened like never before and after several hours waiting in a cold wind, the start of this BTR is like a deliverance. We will finally be able put an end to this (too) long period of preparation and jusg ride - 1200 kilometres further south towards Ramatuelle, in 120 hours maximum. You do the math. The benefit of a group start is that there are a lot of wheels to help hide from the wind and also a lot of friends to chat with. So they told us. Kilometre 1 of 1327 'Flap Flap Flap Flap... - Simon, flat tire!” The adventure has begun. Our duo registration makes sense at this very moment. The different groups pass us and here we are, the two red lanterns of this BTR. Good thing we didn't plan to sleep tonight! We chase the entire field of other riders and find it intense and a little dreamlike as we ride through the night. Sunrise and the first bakery open in Chateauneuf. It looks like a war hospital full of broken riders who are already talking about quitting, sick of cycling after a 160km nightshift. At that point Arthur and I make a promise to each other : to keep the fun going whatever it takes. Like beavers, we will create a small dam against bad vibes and we will follow the fun flow until Ramatuelle! We stretch our legs and smile. A new day can begin. 2- THE GREAT OUTDOORS According to Météo France, the event’s first twelve hours of daylight may be our only sunny day, so we're going to make the most of it. We ride long straight lines to make progress, despite the head wind and find ourselves in a pizza party with a group that includes the famous long distance fixie rider, Thierry Saint Léger. Post-pizza, the party splits into groups, maybe rated by speed of digestion. In the afternoon we are caught up by Elisabeth and some good riders for a prestigious ride to CP1 in Besançon via a fountain which helps wake up our legs. The riding is good. Kilometre 300 of 1327 “This croque-monsieur combo won't be refused!” Another party, this time a bar, this croque-monsieurs. Even if we love it, Arthur and I think this is not the time to chill. It’s 6pm and we depart towards Pontarlier through the best of what the Haut Doubs has to offer : liquid sunshine with some gravel tracks as a bonus. The concentration of fun begins to dilute as the fatigue builds, but as the gps announces 360km, we find ourselves quite happy with what is our longest stretch in the saddle ever. We made the most of the good weather and reward ourselves with a hotel room. 3- THE RAIN Fresh as unwashed bibshorts after only 5 hours of sleep, we started the next stage with a daybreak bakery robbery. It’s a storm of croissants and pains au chocolat After leaving Pontarlier, we arrive in Switzerland via an amazing descent to discover that this country – at least at this time - is wet. So we equip ourselves: hood under the helmet, overshoes, leg warmers. It’s ‘no swag’ mode for the rain.... In fact, these outfits will be our party suits for the next 3 days. Wet is wet, you might as well just pedal. We make it to castle of Gruyère, aka the second checkpoint of this BTR. There are cars and tourist everywhere and it rains to death, so we mark our arrival as best we can with soaked selfies. Time to escape for peace and some warmth during the ascent of the Grand Saint Bernard pass……FALSE! Our friend Julien, who has just arrived at CP2, announces that the pass is closed and we’ll have to go around. Race organisers send an official message to confirm the situation. Kilometre 460 out of 1327 'Riding here without taking the col is like having a Playstation but without the games, it's useless...” An 8-metre-long kebab not far from the castle will clear our minds. We take the opportunity to dry a little and make an express map on Komoot towards Albertville along Lake Geneva. It’s the only logical option to bypass the big mountain passes but our adventure has just been extended by 150 km. It raises doubts about following ‘official advice’. We stay behind the bars until 3am. The last 20km of a 300km day are the longest, but with a lot of patience we finally reach Albertville. Happy but relatively toasted, we have to sleep a minimum to avoid exploding the next day. The alarm will ring at 7 o'clock, then we will go break into another bakery, before the mountain. We're also going to recruit a new riding partner. 4- THE MEETING One of the well-known beauties of long-distance cycling are the random encounters with unknown riders. We’d exchanged some messages then some face to face chat with Julien between the start and CPs 1 and 2. It was clear we shared the same outlook on this crazy adventure so when we learned he’d been abandoned by his fellow traveller it was obvious what to do. We stopped, ordered our 32nd BTR coffee and all of a sudden two became three. Strength in numbers is good to get through the Maurienne Valley – it’s the gateway to a luxury playground for cyclists but the valley itself is so boring it would be boring to describe it….but at least we got to know Julien and set the goal for the day the CP3 aka La Sacra Di San Michele. This objective was confused by a new message from the race organization, with the same theme as before – bad weather means we should avoid CP3, group together as a peloton and keep to the valleys for warmer conditions. Arthur: 'Wait, didn't we come to do the BTR?” Julien: 'What does it say in front of us? Is the weather that bad?' Simon: 'Wait chief, I'm taking out my joker call to a friend!' I speak with Matthieu who is ahead on the road, “do as you wish... but if you come, be prepared because it's real sh*t up on Mont Cenis!” 5- MIGUEL (the storm not Indurain…) 'F*ck it, let's go!” Our decision to go against the race organiser’s advice is almost immediately validated as crazy. A 5-star rain shower leads to a rock fall just outside Fourneaux. After that I started counting the seconds between the lightning flashes in the sky and the heavy rumble of thunder. Kilometre 800 out of 1327 The storm: 'Lightning, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... Grumble!” Me: 'It's all right, guys, it’s far away, we’re at least 6 kilometers ahead!” The storm: 'Lightning, 1,... GRUUUUUMBLE! : Me: 'Ok then! Maybe we're a bit closer after all!” . We decide to take a shelter for 10 minutes, to eat an energy bar and give this storm the time to get a few lengths ahead. It seems our plan has worked as we hit the ascent of Mont-Cenis. Nothing really insurmountable after all! The climb is hard, yes, but with a lot of music and peanuts, I tell you that you can climb anything. As we approach the summit, we felt like we have won a small battle against Mother Nature. Wrong. The storm was waiting for us quietly on the other side of the mountain. Wind from hell, fog reducing visibility to 2 metres, below freezing temperatures and as a bonus, a very solid hail. What followed were the worst 30km of our cycling lives. We shiver and tense as we have to brake continuously for almost the entire descent down the road that resembles a river. Finally we start to regain 1°C here and then another one there as the elevation drops. We're warming up physically but mentally that was a tough one. One thing is sure, in the first town, we're going to take a hotel. Susa, Italy. First street on the right, there is a 3-star hotel. Perfect. We hug each other, happy to be alive, as François Paoletti and Sylvain Renouf arrive behind us. Almost identical experiences led to almost identical planning between the five of us. In the end, it leads to a perfect evening: a life-saving shower and a big beer-pizza combo whilst recounting to each other all our misadventures of the day. We've rarely felt so alive! The next morning, everything is softer. We will ride dry and at a good pace (thanks to the 'Paolletti express') to the most beautiful of abbeys: La Sacra Si San Michele to check CP3. We take a souvenir photo and a 5-star Italian breakfast next to the Abbey! But let’s not lie to each other; after 860 km by bike, most food is delicious. 6- THE MUD The last checkpoint is located at Château Queyras, in the Guil valley which is located on the other side of the Col d’Izoard. The day before, during the storm, we receive another official message from the race organizer to say the Valley is blocked by five mudslides and therefore CP4 is closed, with its four volunteers stranded until authorities clear the road. However, from our view the sky is clear and we’re told that the locals are working hard to shift the mud. It would be a shame to pass so close to the last checkpoint without checking it. Time to call Matthieu again…. 'It's ok! Get over here and stamp this last f*cking checkpoint! There won't be many to check this one...' It was the motivation we needed to go where others wouldn’t. We finish the climb to Montgenèvre with the famous tunnel, bomb down to Briançon before turning left to Guillestre towards our mud bath. Despite being painted brown from head to toe we make it to CP4. Heavy rain combined with mudslides = a complete mudbath. We are three shades of brown but we still managed to laugh about it as the joke per kilometre ratio was maintained. Because there was only one other option : crying. Kilometre 1000 out of 1327 Arriving at CP4, we saw a competitor arriving in the opposite direction. He looks all clean, so we ask him where he's coming from. He turns around and points behind him to the col Agnel and says: 'I went through the col da-da-gnélo I don't know what’s the name! I got cold up there!” We laugh and admire him in equal measure – long distance audaciousness is all relative. We check in at Chateau Queyras, then finish the armagnac flask to warm up the bodies before a muddy descent to the Serre-Ponçon lake for a last short recovery position around midnight. One day to go. 7- FINISHING Four hours of sleep. It's raining outside. We’re trying to finish within the 120hr race time. We’re daunted and excited at the prospect of the final day. Matthieu, François and Sylvain were waiting for us in Sisteron so we can ride to the finish together in style, but we will be too late for that. All the efforts of the past days and kilometres begin to take their toll. I am running on empty just two kilometers after breakfast: no more juice, nothing left and creeping doubts. Fortunately Julien ushers me with finesse to the café: Kilometre 1132 out of 1327 'Ahaha, you look like sh*t dude! Come on, let’s kill some croissants and coffees!” 30 minutes later, with the bags full of food we left, and rode into a full summer afternoon. Short sleeves, blue sky. Everything is great. Except maybe for Arthur. His knee hurts like hell but with 100km to go, there's no way he’ll quit. He grits his teeth all the way to Vidauban for BTR coffee #126 before the final push, on the most beautiful roads of the Haut-Var, towards the sunset. As all roads lead to the Ramatuelle for the last stamp to finish this BTR 2019 with a full Brevet card – we are three of only 35 riders to tick off every CP. Now for beers and a beach bivouac with our fellow riders in the pleasurable climate of the south coast. Kilometre 1327 out of 1327 'The ultimate finish. Cheers!” Distance : 1327 km Elevation : 13276 D+ Elapsed Time : 4 days, 22 hours, 7 minutes

WHAT IS GRAVEL CYCLING? With a growing gravel collection, it’s a good question to ask and a complicated one to answer. Or should we say, the definition of gravel cycling is wide. Gravel is all things to all riders, it can be what you want it to be. Gravel riding is like the flying fish itself – it spans worlds. Gravel cycling is off-road and on-road. It is off-road for adventure and to escape into more remote parts of the world. It is on-road for being able to start from home, commute to the off-road, connect the sectors, to cover distance on longer rides or multi-day tours. The principle being that gravel is all road. See the Torino-Nice Rally for reference. Gravel cycling is double-track and single-track. Or in other words it's whatever your tyres, your bike and your bike handling skills will permit. The principle being that you are challenged by the new surface, which can be a nice distraction from the physical effort. See Grinduro for reference. Gravel cycling is riding and not riding. Hike-a-bike is what they call it when the riding stops and the over-the-shoulder walking with bicycle begins. The principle being that gravel takes you further. See, obviously, Further as the holy grail reference. Gravel cycling is racing and not racing. Whatever your background, your objective, your need, there are competitive races, free forest tracks, old roads hidden in the mountains, flat out one day hammerfests and point to point adventure rallies. The principle being that it is your choice. See Dirty Kanza and the Torino-Nice Rally for reference. Gravel cycling is an old bike or a new bike. Cyclocross, rigid MTB, new age carbon fully adjustable lightweight 5,000€ do-it-all machine. Assess your budget, pick your poison. The principle being that gravel is an excuse for another bike. See Rémi’s custom Victoire Cycles for reference. Gravel cycling is fat tyres and even fatter tyres. Road tyre standard widths have increased. Gravel tyres are yet to find their standard. They probably never will. One rider once said ‘fat tyres make me happy’. The principle being that they are fatter than road tyres and that will indeed enhance your experience. See Benedict Campbell for reference. Gravel cycling is Type 1 fun and Type 2 fun. It’s that fast and flowy single-track beside the railway line with the surprise drop after the bridge. It’s also that sufferfest to the top of the mountain with a loaded bike on your shoulders and the ensuing descent over the boulders of an old roman road that shakes your teeth out and pumps your forearms. The principle being that there are endorphins and adrenaline to be had in whatever proportional serving fits your need. See the Urban Dictionnary for reference. Gravel cycling is everywhere and nowhere. It’s the tow path on the way to work it’s a normal road in Iceland, it’s a forest road in Scotland, it’s a military road in the Alpes-Maritimes, it’s an old smugglers' border crossing in the Pyrenees. The principle being that if you look you will find it and you will lose yourself either in the moment or in the mountains or in your head. See yourself for reference. In a nutshell gravel is freedom, adventure and diversity in whatever form you choose to make it. Gravel riding is a moving object and maybe a state of mind. Whatever your gravel riding choices might be, hopefully there is something for everyone in the Gravel Collection.

Sainte Victoire Super Camper Manivelle.cc & @sims_teuteul arrive home after a season of traversing Europe, fixing cameras on Tour de France bikes and general cycling flânerie and do what comes naturally : find another form of adventure Summer was rich. Crossing Europe twice on the Born to Ride and the Transcontinental Race, after all the necessary training, the kilometers have marched as fast as the forests, the mountains, the borders and all the those in-the-saddle moments that flash by to become core memories after the fact. A welcoming bar, a bakery, a village square, a ridge in the middle of the mountains. All these pleasures present themselves during a long distance race, but the constant need to keep on keeping on means you can’t hang around. With the end of the season, and the return a la maison, it was time to revert to a shorter form of adventure. Eyes off the clock, watch the sun go down and be still for long enough to see it rise again in the same spot. Midday, Blancarde station, Marseille. Three of us converge. Lucie, Simon and Matthieu. The route is already defined: 50% back roads, 50% forest roads. The ultimate destination is the beginning of the ridgeline of the Montagne Sainte Victoire – the massive rocky outcrop that dominates the view north as you approach Aix-en-Provence. The hope is to find a camp spot with a 360° panorama from the Luberon ridge to the Garlaban ridge. A climb, a break. Round a few more corners, a cereal bar. Three rocks, a debriefing. A village, a bar. This is our rhythm, accompanied by giant views, sun, a reservoir, then two donkeys who will follow us to the bivouac area and become our over-night neighbours. Once camp is set it’s time to be still and listen to what surrounds us. A full moon rises and the story-telling begins, each of us sharing anecdotes from the summer's adventures between two mouthfuls of beer. Or freshly picked herbal tea. The donkeys are still there and I wonder if it is to watch us or if they plot revenge after understanding that we were eating Corsican sausage that Lucie had just brought back from the island. The next day? Just like the day before, start with a smooth return on small back roads before cutting through the mountains on the gravel chemins. It's cafés and coasting with the wind the whole way home. We take a quick beer before the return to daily life but not before making a pact with each other to plan the next escape, a short micro-adventure designed solely to better enjoy what surrounds us. Photography: Manivelle.cc

Northcape 4000 Earlier this year Sophie Gateau joined the DUE SOUTH adventure from Nice to Mallorca as the ‘stagiaire’ of a long distance trio. Two months later, as if to prove her qualification as a fully accomplished Audax rider, she decided to take on one of the longest events in Europe – the Northcape 4000. It all started with a story of mutts. A fear of the stray dogs of the Balkans, those same ones who bite the calves of cyclists who dare pass in front of their muzzle, made my decision to register for the Northcape 4000 and not the TCR. A self-sufficient adventure of 4500 kilometers connecting Torino in Italy to North Cape in Norway following a fixed route. By choosing this event, my ferocious beasts will be reindeers not wild canines. July 27, 08.00, Torino. We are 141 cyclists ready to rumble, a motley mix of long distance experts and newbies like me and my friend Myriam. An untimely puncture 100 meters after the start and we will hardly see anyone again. The leaders of the race will ride nearly 400 kilometers per day. We on the other hand will stick to a more modest 200. Our humble goal is merely to reach the end. The first 2000 kilometers are quietly conquered, spread out between Italy and Denmark with two mandatory checkpoints : Strasbourg in France and Bastogne in Belgium. The highlight of these festivities : an epic arrival at the top of the Great St. Bernard Pass by having to walk the last 20 meters because the wind is too strong to stay on the bike; the subsequent descent into the clouds; the crossing of the Jura mountains by a pass so busy that it deserves to be forgotten ; and the rugged and beautiful course of the classic Ardennes Liège-Bastogne-Liège, also known as 'The Green Hell'. Adding a Classic as a short interlude in the whole parcours helps give a sense of perspective of this challenge. It’s longer than most. Landscapes change quickly. The hills disappear, leaving the flat fields open to the advances of the West wind. Dutch brick houses, their flower gardens, their lawns mowed with precision, then to the endless German and Danish agricultural plains where wild animals frolic. In Denmark, villages stuck between fields of Christmas trees and low lands of cereal crops, are fewer and fewer and smaller and smaller, with a constant: there is often nowhere to get food, but always a hairdresser. It’s all about priorities. The routine of the ride is now firmly installed. To ride, to find a coffee, to ride, to find something to eat, to ride, to look for a place to sleep. Simple. The big winner for a night’s sleep is the sandbox under the pirate ship in a children's playground: a four star ranking in the guide to the best roadside bivouac locations. This routine is set to repeat. 10 days in a row. August 7, 18:30, Oslo. Crossing the Skagerrak Strait allows us to rest for 9 hours. Myriam decided to stop there, whilstI continue solo. More than half of the participants have already scratched. Buck up old chum! I hit the road right away becauseI know that if I spend the night in the city, the departure will be harder. Here is my adventure! I do not know what to expect except the certainty that the weather will deteriorate and the distances between the villages will drastically lengthen. To ride alone does not frighten me, rather the opposite. The time, distance and fatigue will be now be managed in my own way. The unknown. Scandinavia is a new playground whose rules I do not yet know. Having not taken a tent, but only a bivvy bag, places to camp become difficult to find. With the cold and humidity that has settled, this is another strategy to set. An attempt to sleep on the side of a Swedish lake infested with mosquitos proves quite catastrophic. On the positive side, it provided the nicest and improbable meeting with Marine, a Parisian hiker on vacation who took pity on my forlorn soaked state and fed me a warm meal. And she promised to follow my journey to the end by dot-watching on the tracking site. Motivation levels were reset to 1000! After a quick traverse across Norway(such is the length of this event), I enter Sweden, which is a different story entirely. The crossing of the country is nearly 900 kilometres long. Wild nature, fir and birch forests, colourful wooden houses and pink, mauve, white and yellow flowers that grow randomly along the road ... I got the impression I was riding through the set of a film by Ingmar Bergman. I meet my first reindeer. They don’t bite. Villages are a scarce commodity. No more on-the-road improvisation. I must now plan from one day to another where to find food and sleep because the food supplies are sometimes spaced more than 100 km from each other (options vary from gas stations, coffee shops, a hot dog stand and liquorice candy supplier, a fishing tackle merchant). The region is full of campsites, most often cute little wooden cabins with all the modern comforts, that is to say, a heater which is immediately transformed into a dryer for rain soaked kit, and a kettle. They will be my godsend. It takes little to be happy. Back in Norway, the beauty of the landscape, the respect of the drivers towards the cyclists and the many messages of encouragement that my buddies send me re-motivate me. Too much euphoria, and my first mistake of the day. I aim for a long day and a sleepless night to catch the first ferry 300 kilometres away, in the early morning. But it's been 17 days on the road. At 23:00, exhausted, I stopped and settle in a bus shelter. To avoid getting out all the bivouac equipment, I give it a try with only my bivvy bag and a survival blanket despite the cold night. Spoiler alert: it does not work at all. I leave at 3 o'clock in the morning, it is already daylight. I have hardly slept, but I tell myself that the boat will give me the opportunity. Second mistake, I failed to study the map properly. Yes, there are only a hundred kilometres left, but with a mountain in the middle. An icy rain comes in a deluge during the ascent, there is no shelter. In the middle of this misery, a magic moment, an elk emerges from the fog in front of me. Even so, I start falling asleep on my bike. Although I wear all the clothes I have, I'm frozen and my feet and hands are soaked. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I take a nap of 10 minutes in the rain that turned into Norwegian drizzle and then wrap my survival blanket under my waterproof jacket for the remaining kilometres. A silver, gold and yellow armour that will get me to Bodø harbour. I arrive at my destination around 13:00, book a hotel and go directly to bed. The boat can wait half a day. The next morning I land on the Lofoten Islands, just before the start of the Artic Race of Norway, the UCI Continental race for pros. Roads are blocked, except for bikes, and roadside supporters are wondering what I'm doing there, two hours before the peloton. The landscapes are breathtaking, the vegetation is luxuriant, the fishing villages are traditional, the sun is back and all seems promising for the last 1000 kilometres that lay ahead. I pass through the Troms area, even more majestic than the Lofoten, with its spectacular fjords surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Reindeers are more and more numerous, gray wagtails swirl in front of my wheel, the roads are empty, the pleasure of riding a bike is concentrated in these few moments. The end of the adventure approaches, I enter the austere region of Finnmark and its arid tundra of stones, moss and small crooked trees. The only people I meet are the employees of the few gas stations and some cyclo-tourists: our roads all converge on the North Cape, a symbolic magnet. The last of the countless tunnels crossed is in front of me, this one is out of the ordinary : 7 kilometres dug under the sea, in the obscurity, with a descent followed by a 9% climb out to reach the island of Magerøya. I feel as if I am entering the darkness. The temperature dropped by 15 degrees Celsius in 5 minutes and the water flowing on the interior walls is frozen. Let's get out of there as soon as possible. After a short night in Honningsvåg, the northernmost city in the world, I leave at dawn to enjoy the last 30 kilometres alone. The journey is crazy, the harsh landscape is hilly, the wind is icy and clouds rise along the cliffs. Emotion grips me as I see the North Cape building in the distance. It's August 21st, the sun is rising, and I just reached the end of Europe. Torino - North Cape : 4631 km / 40754 D+ / D24 H22 M42