betweenalps

[betweenalps]

Route Research

I was lucky to stay with Brigitte and Nicolas on the first night of my France bike tour. They are in their fifties and are a very experienced bike touring couple. They had traveled the world with their bikes, including long trips all across Central Asia to Shanghai as well as through Latin America. The latter even with their kids at age 5, 7, and 9 at the time (they had used two tandem bikes and a children’s bike and the kids had taken turns).

They were experts on bike touring. I was a noob.

I had vaguely planned a route before heading on my trip from Lake Geneva through the main Alps over the high passes. I was just following roads on an online map though. I didn’t know how planning a cycle tour worked: what roads were suitable and how to find them.

Nicolas was a great help here. He quickly made me understand that the passes were not an option because they were currently unpassable because of the snow. He had a lot of alternative recommendations though.

He went and grabbed a bunch of paper maps made for car drivers. He told me how to look for good cycling roads: the thinner the line, the smaller the road – which typically means less traffic and more joy.

With the help of the various maps and Nicolas’ personal recommendations, I drew my route: from Chambéry through the Chartreuse and Vercors mountain ridges, over Mount Ventoux, through the Camarque, with some hilly add-ons West of the flat Rhone valley.

Which is pretty much what I rode at the end: https://www.komoot.com/collection/1585061/-france

With a bit more bike touring experience on my back, I now plan my routes more thoroughly. And I still look for small, quiet roads.

[betweenalps]

Daring

It was over. I felt empty.

Our breakup didn’t come as a surprise. The last months had been a struggle. I had tried everything to keep our relationship alive. I had done selfless compromises and futile attempts to make it work. At the end our lives were too different, too incompatible.

I was anxious of the time ahead of me, with single life awaiting me once more. But I also felt surprisingly relieved.

We had planned a two week holiday together. And that was in two weeks’ time. What was I going to do with that now? Nobody would be able to join me so short notice. I contemplated canceling my time off and working instead. But I realized that I needed a holiday – especially after the last months.

In the years past I had this idea of going on a bike tour. I was intrigued how traveling with a bike would be. I had hoped to go on a trip with someone. But company was not an option with two weeks to go.

After much contemplation, I had made up my mind – I would to on a bike tour to France… Probably. Like 90% sure. Damn, I was scared of that endeavor. What if I would hate it?

My vacation came closer. I was committed to my plan – more or less. I planned to take the train to Geneva and start my journey there. I didn’t have a precise route planned. Rather a rough direction. I would just decide along the way. And I could always ride to the next train station and go home if I got fed up with it. Truth be told – I just committed to a few days in my mind. And maybe that’s why I did go – because the challenge was broken down into manageable size.

I did take the train to Geneva. And I started cycling along my rough route. And I loved it from the start.