Only 9 more sleeps....

So I’m down to single figures now. Only 9 more sleeps until I board the plane for Paris.

Being my first solo trip, I’m starting to worry a little about a few niggly little things. For example, making sure I secure the bike at supermarkets, campgrounds and the like. Having my bike stolen would ruin my trip. I’m taking a lock but what if there is no pole to secure it to? Hmmm. I’ll work on this one.

I’ve organised a transfer from CDG to my hotel in Paris. This is the first time I’ve done this but travelling alone, my friends assure me it is a very sensible thing to do. As for the hotel in Paris, well that is also a first. Only for two nights but again, this means I can focus on putting the bike together and getting provisions. It also means I can rest and let someone else do the cooking for a couple of days to try to recover from the flight as quickly as possible. I’m staying here: http://hoteldelaportedoree.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt9ff5ZGI4wIVyRwrCh2Z-wJ-EAAYASAAEgLlQ_D_BwE
This is a ‘cycle friendly’ hotel and apparently they will store my bike box. I will post later to confirm whether this is actually the case.

The baggage is slowly coming together and it even looks like it will fit on a bike now.

Now to finalise the ‘bits and pieces’.......

How much gear is too much....

Normally being so organised, I’ve left my run until quite late. Most likely because of my injury hiccup and not knowing whether I was actually going to be able to travel, let alone cycle.

I’ve started to lay out my gear and it’s hard to believe how all of this can possibly fit on one bike. The ‘just in case’ items must stay behind. The ‘maybe I might wear it’ becomes part of the leave behind pile. Tools and spare parts fall into the ‘can I fix it myself with this tool’ or ‘take it to a bike shop’.

Then there are things that are must haves:
Warm clothes
Platypus wine storage :-)
Pillow, sleeping mat, sleeping bag
Lots of underwear and socks

Then there are the nice to haves:
Chair with a back
Shirt with a collar
Thongs for the shower (the ones that go on your feet)
Rain pants

Again, this will come down to weight, not only how much I am ‘allowed’ but how much I can realistically carry.

Cleats or toeclips.......

I’ve been asking myself the same question for years. Cleats versus toeclips for touring.

Firstly it is personal choice. This can be for comfort, space, weight and a myriad of other reasons.

Then the old argument of efficiency. In my opinion, there is very little efficiency to be gained on a loaded touring bike with cleats. I think there is some benefit in having a solid base on a cycling shoe and therefore reducing the pressure on the ball of the foot that can be exacerbated with toeclips.

The benefits of toeclips:

Toeclips mean one less pair of shoes.
Toeclips mean you won’t slip when trying to get your foot on the pedal.
Toeclips are safer on wet and slippery cobbles.
Toeclips can mean more stylish cycling shoes. :-)

So for me it may actually be a weight issue. Can I get an extra pair of shoes in without going over my baggage allowance?

Watch this space.

A slight hiccup....

So all the best laid plans can come unstuck! I’ve had a hiccup with my training - an unexplained injury that saw me admitted to hospital. I’ve been off the bike for the month of May after doing 500km in April.

I’m working on my recovery and have managed a couple of gentle rides. With only just under 5 weeks until I fly, this has been quite inconvenient as I was feeling strong and ready to roll.

I’m keen to get some kms into my legs during June although Winter has now hit Queensland with snow just outside of Stanthorpe this morning. Riding in Winter is not my favourite thing to do but I need to get bike fit. I’ll get some Reformer Pilates in as well to supplement the lack of training and get some overall strength back. I have good base fitness so hopefully that will be enough.

My good mate Neil is helping me to get my bike ready and I’m so grateful to have his support and that of his wife Sarah for ‘lending’ him to me. :-) He has installed the front rack and is now working on adjusting the panniers to fit both racks. I’m starting to get my gear together and have copied my maps to A3 to help with viewing while I’m on the road.

I’ve decided not to go with a Garmin but rather get a mount and waterproof case for my phone. I’ve added a data pack to my Australia Post travel SIM card and will hotspot to my iPad to make blogging easier.

I still need to purchase my tent and have decided on the MSR Hubba Hubba NX as it is half the weight of my Vango Omega 250. Weight is really going to count on this trip particularly given my injury.

This picture is from my first ride after the injury. An easy 50km.