Day 1 and 2

Looking back on our Day 1 trek from Sevenoaks to Dover, I might have underestimated the topography of the Kent countryside. Of course, Ryan, my traveling partner, had known about this all along, but only mentioned his confusion about my route selection after we had stopped for the day. Even if we'd completely rerouted our intro day, I don't think the hills would have been any more avoidable or forgiving.

In the last 15 km, we faced a beast of a climb to the north of Folkstone. Two kilometres in length (roughly), with sections of over 15% grade. I hit my limit. With thighs and hip flexors cramping up on my granniest of gears, I had to resort to hopping off the bike, having a quick 30-second recovery, then walking up to the next flat section to grind out the rest of the ascent --my life flashing before my eyes.

Despite the difficulty of the day, the country lanes were a wonderful addition to the trip. Breathing in the fresh air, watching the rolling hills of Kent roll by. The peculiar houses and small manors. Even crossing over to some of the main highways wasn't too stressful, however navigating through the roundabouts --sometimes crossing two or three in immediate succession-- was a little hairy. Having put in a solid effort on Day 1, and after a very large Cesar salad with ample amounts of lardon, Monday night ended in a solid sleep.

 

    

 

We slept in the next day. Surprisingly, Ryan wasn't up with the rising sun --I was so stoked! Although my legs were a bit tired, they didn't feel crampy at all. Taking advantage of the breakfast buffet, we took off from Hôtel Metrpole at around 10:45. The open road over the first 40 km was panflat, and the quality was smooth. We made great time... until we crossed over to the canal trails.

If yesterday's bit of frustrating had to do with hills, today's major annoyance factor was way-finding. Although I had tried to scout out the canal track that we were supposed to take using Google Maps, sometimes each track would turn to gravel. Othertimes, business that used the canals for shipping would buy the trails themselves and lock them off to the public. Other times, the trails that were supposed to be there just weren't. When we did find a good track again, the pavement was awful. So bumpy, we might as well have been riding old 'bone shakers'. 

I'll probably be favouring a saddle sore for the next few days...

Trying to navigate the canals had added a solid two hours on our ride. With 40 km left in the day, we abandoned the canal trails completely, and booked it to Lens. Our average speed from there on shot up from less than 20 to about 30km/h. It was awesome!

Here in Lens, we've just devoured some Mexican food  gotten some more food for the morning, and are just chilling out for the rest of the night. Tomorrow is a recovery ride of about 30 km, through Vimy Ridge where we'll have ample time to stop and really take that site in. Our next afternoon/evening will be in Arras, where my bike trip actually started 10 years ago. Solo. As a 23 year old kid with virtually no money.

Sounds crazy to say that out loud.

 

   

Leading up to a new Frank Trek

Looks like it's been a couple years since I've posted to this blog. The past few years have been tumultuous at times. I dropped out of distance cycling for a couple years, only to realize that I was getting fat and depressed and decided to hop back in the saddle for daylong rides of 50, 100 or the rare 150km ride. I'm not going to make a pledge to you that I'm restarting the blog, or make a commitment to post once a week --because frankly, I'll end up breaking those commitments and promises. But at the moment, I'm gearing up for something that I think is special. 

Ten years ago, I was fortunate enough to have a little bit of money in the bank, and a little bit of time on my calendar to travel. After consulting with a couple friends from high school, I decided to visit Europe, and to tour France. Not having a tremendous amount of cash, my friends and I brainstormed cheap and immersive ways to see France. Hiking was always mentioned, but to be honest, I absolutely despise walking! Hitchhiking was the next idea. Again, however, too much walking for my likes. Trains, car rentals, or tour groups seemed really expensive for all of us. Eventually, we settled on cycling. It was certainly faster then walking, and after watching a couple Tour de France videos on YouTube, we figured the French countryside would have better attitudes than Canada or the UK for cycle-touring. 

So cycling it was! The experience was so immersive, so thrilling, that I still define this trip as a turning point in my life. I turned away from the idea that I needed a car when I 'grew up,' to embracing --whole hog-- the bicycle as my main mode of transportation. Although I ain't no supermodel now, I lost a lot of weight, but more importantly lost many inches around my waistline. When I got back to Canada, after having my touring bike nicked in Paris, I bought an ungodly looking commuter (a KHS Westwood with an ape-bar) and started biking to school, to the store, to friend's parties, for small day trips. You get the idea. In time, I salvaged a medium sized frame from the garbage at the apartment building I lived in. I had it looked-over for safety reasons, and was told it was probably hit or run over by a car, but the chain- and seat-stays were pried back into place. I breathed new life into it: a new paint job, new drivetrain and groupset, wheels, cables, seat, grips --all the bells and whistles. Despite being a plain old frame with a straight-bar, it was super responsive and fast! Years later, I would buy a road bike --a Giant OCR3-- and a new commuter --a Jamis Coda. I gave the Frankensteinian bike away to a friend in hopes that she would find that special excitement and freedom that I had discovered in France years before. 

I'm not sure if she ever did or not. 

I got into the cycling advocacy racket and learned a lot about municipal and city planning. I still lend a hand every now and then when I have the time energy. I've also been dabbling in bicycle racing, having completed a couple biathlons in the early 2010s and recently, my first criterium (Cat D). 

Great kit! Great crit! Mediocre performance...

It's been 10 years since my foray into cycling started --all from one trip. At the end of the month, having grown as a cyclist and an adult, I plan to revisit many of those same roads in Northern France with one of those high school friends in tow. With our route planned from Sevenoaks, UK to Paris, France, we'll be staying in many of the same towns and suffering over the same hills and trials from 2007. 

I can't wait. 

Will post again about the bike I'm taking, the gear I've settled on and what little tech I'll be bringing along with me.

This might be a flash in the pan for this blog. I might return to years of silence, but I hope you'll join me for this reunion ride, 10 years in the making!

Join me for France Trek +10!