Accommodation
- have somewhere you can stay until a couple of hours before, also means can leave stuff behind
Stuff carried
- didn't use tools, lucky
- spare tyre, may need on ride home otherwise you should be able to boot a tyre problem to the next control
- coke and water in distinguishable from expensive powdery shit, something to try out on 200s
- suncream, small bottle was empty middle of second day, take 2 as French pharmacies only have spray bottles of 30 and 50
- wash kit, you survived without a wash as you didn't have time for one.
- spare kit, replace with merino layer options and a spare pair of shorts
- bog roll, French town bogs don't have toilet paper, practice using them properly or carry a few more packs of tissues, also useful when your rhinitis kicks in as you've not taken meds for 3 days
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Travel
- touring down Was enjoyable, will find out how the retour feels in a couple of days
- light sleeper, consider less time efficient day trains and ferries
On the road - other riders (or stereotyping for safety)
- there will be utter twats out there, avoid.
- tall Dutch riders don't appear to do high speed twisty descents, liability to you even though they are good for the tow on the flat and slight climbs
- Japanese groups/riders are variable, some are really good, others you will wonder if they've ever been on a bike before, avoid unless get chance to assess
-- also most noted for white line following on the first night...
-- also noted for containing rider who when in a line passing you, pulled out, sat up doing no hands on mtb losing speed rapidly... Riders beside got the message quick enough thankfully
-- also noted for being riders you were most likely to turn Weegie on, see above...
- American groups, do ranndoneuring in style
-- they know how to ride together
-- quick to politely point out issues like rider fixing bike at roadside blinding oncommers, your profanity loaded insult was avoided.
- Canadian groups, see Americans, but with added comment about relatives in Hamilton, ON
- French individuals
-- don't trust the locals routing through junctions in their own town, one of the loudeac riders went left side of the separation near the control and almost onto a bonnet.
On the road - the wayside
- controls
-- if café and or restaurant are near control then make quick judgement of facilities
-- ham on plate of box Pasta at quedillac was shite, but everyone else says they got a fantastic feed there
-- scope out food options for daytime better, best meal was the Mexican chicken from the takeaway just out of the loudeac cobtrol, but Service was slow.
-- self service options at tintineac were good, cheff was appropriately stroppy.
- locals roadside
-- mostly water and cake, often bottles left out overnight if unmanned.
--- use them!
--The one after montagne on retour was a good rest for switching from hilly to pretty flat, tabac/boulangerie after that was good too.
-- You ignored them early on but would have saved time at controls
- shops
-- use the open ones on the first night, big mistake not doing so
-- staff know what they are dealing with is knackered cyclists many not seeking French
-- Coca Cola is called Coca
-- dive into tabacs with spectators, you are their entertainment.
- language
-- save time by learning French numbers and useful nouns.
-- rural France has more time for you murdering their language, its their day job too.
- sleep
-- getting a bed would be nice, getting up off the floor is much harder than lifting your head off a table,
-- the lounger at the top of the roc was great!
-- don't worry about time in hand when it come to a 15/30m power nap, the benefit of the nap will be seen in how well you ride from there.
-- your ability to wake up just before the alarm you set is pretty good, but don't forget to set it again if you decide you want longer
-- outdoor sleeps are more pleasant during the day,
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