Training Log Archive: simmo

Short ride back to St Malo today to finish the trip, but several tough hills on the way. The first part of the route was great, following the River Rance on a path, then minor roads but with several small towns where roads were sometimes busy. The final part in St Malo was a very busy road with a cycle lane, but with several roundabouts which had to be negotiated carefully.

After breakfast we hung around Dinan, exploring narrow and steep cobbled streets, the city walls, and several shops where PP burnt some plastic.

Day 3 did not start too well as it started to rain just as we left the hotel in Pontorson. However, by the time we visited a couple of shops to purchase lunch (similar to yesterday except that we had also purloined a couple of hard-boiled oeufs from the breakfast bar) and found the post office to buy stamps for a couple of postcards, it had stopped. Although much of the morning threatened rain, it did not eventuate so the raincoats soon disappeared into panniers.

Today was a decent ride through varying countryside to Dinan, mainly on minor roads with very little traffic, although there were a couple of short (less than 1km) sections on busier roads. Stiff climb up to our hotel right in the centre of the old walled town of Dinan, and a pleasant surprise when the receptionist told us that the previous night's guest had trashed our reserved room, so we were getting an apartment instead. Nice rooms, but 3rd floor with no lift.

Walked around a bit while waiting for the aptmt to be readied, then another walk to find a bank and check out restaurants. We had cheap crepes last night, so went for something better tonight and were not disappointed at Les Trois Lunes (3 Moons).

Day 2, Dol de Bretagne to Pontorson. A short ride to the coast, then along bike paths to Mont St Michel. Spent 3 hours there, including a visit to the Abbaye which was fascinating and very enlightening - architecturally speaking. Well worth the entry and audio guide fees. For lunch we had purchased a baguette, a hard sheep's cheese, tomatoes and some fruit, which we enjoyed on one of the ramparts. Afterwards only a short 8km ride along a bike path to Pontorson and our hotel for the night.

Day 1 of Brittany/Normandy ride: St Malo to Dol de Bretagne. 4-5kms of urban stuff (1 street in from the coast, so couldn't see it) before we hit rural France. Passed a couple of nice beaches, then detoured to the Pointe du Grouin with fine views West and Eastward to Mont St Michel. From there to Cancale for PP to try some freshly landed oysters, but she was very disappointed with them. The seafront was wall to wall cafes, all crowded, doing oysters and other delights of the sea, so we rode back up the hill to find a shop and buy some terrine and bread for lunch. Nice ride along country lanes (albeit busier than Galloway) to Dol, which has a nice cathedral.

Comparison of bikes: Btittany vs Galloway

Brittany bikes have two advantages - front suspension and side panniers, but then we don't really need these here but would like to have had them in Galloway to cope with the rough road surfaces and to carry more clothing for warmth and rain. Consequently the Brittany bikes are heavier, but unnecessarily so.

Both have the same crap Shimano 3x8 gears, and both have those stupid handlebar grips with the extremely uncomfortable flare on the outside. Whoever designed these is a bonehead, and the manufacturers that put them on bikes should be shot. Just plain round grips please guys!

Right around Holyrood on the path next to the road. Lots of cyclists using the road as it is partly closed for cars. This looks like a friendlier run than going off the road into the hills of Arthur's Seat - there is a longish, but steady climb rather than the really steep paths on the hills.