Autumnly week in France
Autumnly week in France
Title picture taken on the way from Buis-les-Barronies towards Montbrun-les-Bains. Mont Ventoux seems to be everywhere, then again i cycled around it quite a lot ;)
Originally i wanted to do two weeks in Cyprus, but when i was checking in my bike at the airport, they did not allow me to bring it just bubble wrapped. That was such a bummer, i had done this a few times before without problem. It sucked and i could not reschedule the flight for it to make sense because the flights to Cyprus were so few.
So i sat at home depressed for a couple days, then drove my car to Valence, France and rode from there to the Luberon and back. The Drôme provençale and the Mont Ventoux Area are really gorgeus. Luberon i did not enjoy as much, still very nice, i rode the ridge road of the petit Luberon and thought i may have panoramas to both sides, but it was mostly forest, but a cedar forest, not something i have seen before i think.
On the descend from Col de la Chaudière towards Bourdeaux
First time touring without a kickstand, it was less anoying than i thought it would be, i think i'll continue doing that too. Also brought my camera again this time, that's what i had the feedbag for, fits pretty good. But i think i'll skip that again and bring just the phone, although i much prefer taking photos through a viewfinder. In this post i am using only photos taken with my phone, haha.
Gorges de la Nesque - had ridden those five years ago already but it's not like it was boring to do again :)
I also got some wider tires, 47mm so my fenders fit no more. Great upgrade in comfort though coming from40 mm. I guess i'll keep fenders off for touring, love the tires (Continental Contact Urban 47-622), and although they are basically slick, it did not feel any less grippy on gravel, did a couple good gravel climbs and downhills. No long time test yet, i got only about 600 km on them.
Testing my new tires on gravel at Col des Arles
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I think that some things are more hassle than it is worth it on tour. I don't have experience with kick stand (last time I had it when I was 10), but I always put my fenders off.
I was really surprised when I get from 40mm to 45mm tires how much it is different. As for tread it doesn't really matter that much, light tread is enough for 99% of surfaces. (I use Panaracer gravelkings).
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Kickstand I only missed a bit at camp, bit more of a hassle to access the bags on both sides.
Are you running your tires tubeless? I would try that, but my rims aren't made for that and I don't want to deal with the potential mess that may come along with trying anyway.
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No, I have "tubeless ready" everything but I didn't bothered to try it. Guy in LBS said that with my mileage it is worth it.
I run on slightly lower pressure and I use it everyday. So I need to buy new tires after about 6 months. It is less hassle with replenishing sealant (you don't have to do it, before it dries you have to change tires anyway).
I still think that for occasional rides it isn't worth it, but for daily use bike or long tour it may be good option.
Also I would do it on touring bike only with the "pool noodle" rim protection. It slightly leaks pressure over time and with heavy bike I worry that some rock would mess up the wheels if I forget to pump it up.
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