From the Alps to the Sea - Preparation trip

The big trip is approaching, we think we'll get to the end of our preparations from a material point of view. To get to the bottom of it, there's nothing better than a test trip!

We choose a symbolic route: down to the Mediterranean! From Grenoble to the sea, there are several classic routes: the Via Rhona (too flat for our taste), the "little roads of the sun" to Nice (too hard for a first test) and all the alternatives in between. After a little reflection, we opt for the crossing Grenoble - Port St Louis du Rhone, but by the mountains: Vercors, Baronnies, Luberon, Alpilles and Camargue.

A 400km route in 5 days that will allow us to test our gears, our load, the extra things and the missing things! Then as always: it's a great adventure!

Day 1: VERCORS

We start this journey in Sassenage, near Grenoble, after weighing the loaded bikes: 43kg each, not that bad! After not even one flat kilometer, the climb begins, and not an easy one: the gorges that lead to Engins. We therefore set on granny gear and pedal all morning to arrive at Lans-en-Vercors.

The plateau is magnificent, and the sun is radiant. But not enough to keep us warm while we quickly roll down into the icy Bourne gorges!

We then go up on the long plateau which ends with the Col du Rousset. We are finally alone on the road! First technical glitch: Roxy notices that the disc of her rear brake is warped and rubs with each rotation of the wheel... Approximate manual truing and it starts again 5min later! Shoe brake 1 - Disc brake 0. To be continued...

At the end of the day we give the last push to finally arrive at the Col du Rousset. It's freezing, so we have to go down on the Die (city) side to gain a few degrees!

We put our jackets, pants and gloves on and go down the Col du Rousset towards Die by the many laces. Sunset on the cliffs of the southern Vercors... Incredible!

We finally pitch the tent in one of the hairpins after 80km and 1650m of elevation gain! Beautiful day!

Day 2: BARONNIES

The night was relatively warm, but our muscles are not. We feel this morning the consequences of our physical exploits of the day before. We are not real experinced cyclists yet.

After breakfast and folding camp, descent to Die, then we go up on the other side of the valley, in the Baronnies by the Roanne valley. We are literally alone and the road becomes our private cycle path which goes up this beautiful valley to St Nazaire le Desert.

It's postcard day: small passes and canyons pass by. We finish with a long descent, Roxy's disc brakes whistle. Shoe brake 2 - Disc brake 0. To be continued..

We finally arrive in Nyons where we pitch the tent between vineyards and the river. 80km and 1150m of elevation.

Day 3: LUBERON

We open our eyes: 7:30 am. It's not usual... We completely forgot: it's the time change!

Let's go for a crossing of the Luberon today. We pass at the foot of Mt Ventoux, shall we go there or not? We decide that 1600m of elevation over 20km is not yet for us...

The day continues with the climb to the hilltop village of Venasque and the descent through the hilltop town of Gordes: sublime at sunset!

We reach the foothills of the Luberon regional park to pitch the tent facing the high rock faces.

Today again we will have done 80km and 1150m of elevation gain.

Day 4: ALPILLES

Very quiet night, we pack up with the hope of reaching the sea during the day. Indeed the reliefs have calmed down and we are now in the middle of the Rhone valley, with still the small chain of the Alpilles to cross. The most beautiful moment of the day!

We pedal at full speed, tailwind, stopped only by a few awkward crossings and a 2x2 highway. We join the Via Rhona on its last 40 km. It's very (very) flat and monotonous... Luckily we're only doing a little bit of it!

At 4 p.m. we are in Port St Louis du Rhone and a few kilometers further we arrive at the sea. It took us 4 days to connect the capital of the Alps to the Mediterranean, not that much after all! We contemplate the view.

We have a little energy left but decide to cycle 20km in the other direction to get ahead for tomorrow.

We pitch the tent near the Camargue horses and bulls. Another beautiful day with 116km!

Day 5: CAMARGUE

Last day of our trip. We have very sore legs. We first join Arles at 35km by bike. The morning dew didn't spare us and our tent was completely soaked!

We reach the train station where we take a first TER for Valence then a second for Grenoble. Trains are not very suitable, but if we were not happy we knew the other way back!

This little trip of a few days allowed us to analyze our gears and improve our vision of cycling. We have one month left for the final preparations!