Back from my first tour

[Mark Grant]

Saturday evening I returned home from my first tour.
Last Sunday I rode to Paddington to catch the train to Plymouth where I took the overnight ferry to Brittany.
From Roscoff I took the V7 to Carhaix- Plouger for my first overnight stop at a municipal campsite, the following day I cycled to Le Pouldu on the south coast and Wednesday I rode to the southern tip of Quiberon. It had rained every day, though I was fortunate that it seemed to stop in the afternoon so that at least I could set up camp in the dry.
Thursday was much better weather wise as I headed north. I camped overnight at La Trinite Porhoet on a municipal site that had only just opened for the season. Friday started dry but rain fell as I left camp and continued. I thought about bailing onto the train at Broons but instead pressed on to Dinan. Dinan was my intended stop for the night but as it was only early afternoon and the weather didn't look likely to improve I decided to head for St. Malo and catch the ferry a day early.
As I got to St. Malo the rain stopped. After sorting the ferry I went to the tourist office and then to a nearby campsite, as soon as I had paid the heavens opened again accompanied by a howling wind. I stood under the shelter of the sanitary block for an hour before I ventured out to pitch the tent. From Portsmouth the next day I took a train to Walton on Thames and cycled home.

Despite the weather I really enjoyed the tour, I'll definitely do more.

So... I would like to say Thank You to those that post on here for their input and advice eventhough not aimed directly at me. Before embarking on this tour I read many posts and also crazyguy journals and all were very helpful. (I think the only one here that I mentioned my upcoming tour to was RichP on a recent FNRttC)

I will get round to writing a fuller report on crazy guy soon.



Thanks



Mark.

 

[J-Lo]

Nice little read, glad you enjoyed it! I haven't been on my first tour yet but im eager to give it a go!

 

[rich p]

Nice one Mark! You were unluckier than I've ever been with the weather so, on the positive side, it can only get better!

You passed the test of character with flying colours though.

 

[chris-s]

Well done, shame about the weather tho. I'm off to France for my first tour roscoff to Paris in mid July. I haven't got any wet weather gear yet, cant decide whether to risk it or not, what did you use? I'm trying to stick to a single carradice saddlebag to keep things lightweight.

What did you wish you had taken and what not? What is the v7 route to carhaix like, is it suitable for a road bike on 25mm tyres? It's about the only green route I'm contemplating.

Any other tips?

Chris

 

[Mark Grant]

I had my Altura Nightvision jacket, which is waterproof up to a point. Although it rained it wasn't too cold so it wasn't that bad. It was a bit chillier on the Friday so I put on my legwarmers as my knees were getting a bit cold.


The V7 to Carhaix was a pretty good compacted gravelly surface though the rain had made it a bit soft. I'd have thought 25mm tyres would be fine.

I don't think I needed anything that I didn't take, apart from some bike oil perhaps, I picked some up in a supermarket and if it hadn't been so wet I wouldn't have needed it. I took something to wear in bed at night in case it was cold but never used them, my down sleeping bag was warm enough.


As for tips....Have fun!

It may be worth picking your route so that you are never too far from a bail out to a train station or B&B.

 

[Skichick]

Well Done, shame about the weather..
I am doing my first tour in July for 3 weeks wobbling through France from Le Havre heading to the DDay beaches and then down the Atlantic coast to Spain hopefully. We are going down the camping route too, and fingers crossed it is not too hot or that the French are having a wet summer!

 

[Mark Grant]

I've now completed the crazyguy journal HERE

Mark.

 

[J-Lo]

I am also thinking about buying the altura dryline 56's, and the dryline bar bag - would you recommend? Thanks!

p.s - reading your journal now

 

[Mark Grant]

Yes, with my limited experience I would recommend them.

They are roomy and although some bits in the small side pocket got damp the main compartment remained dry. The bar bag also kept everything dry.

 

[chris-s]

Nice write up, I'll try to do the same for my short trip in a few weeks.

Chris