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    South of France

    Bikepacking The Car-Free Greenways Of France



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    I’m only a couple of days away from my end destination, the wine region of Bordeaux. This specific day is a Sunday, and in France this usually means a little bit of a logistical problems, since most of the supermarkets and restaurants are closed. But, it being a Sunday also means less cars out on the roads. Or does it? Maybe it doesn’t matter that much since the route I’m taking goes mostly along wonderful lush greenways. So join me for a great day of bikepacking in France.

    Bike:
    Kona Sutra

    Bike Bags:
    Ortlieb Handlebar Pack 15L
    Ortlieb Frame Pack 6L
    Ortlieb Seat Pack 16,5L

    Clothes:
    Adidas Adilette Flip Flops – https://amzn.to/40eKFyQ
    Craft Core Enduro Jacket
    2 Forclaz Merino Wool T-Shirt
    Nike Mens Dri-FIT Short Sleeve Polo Shirt – https://amzn.to/3j2aq1w
    Padded MTB Shorts
    Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants – https://amzn.to/3jalGfE
    2 Pair of Socks https://amzn.to/40dU4H6
    Merino Underwear – https://amzn.to/3XRU9hZ
    Merino Wool Buff – https://amzn.to/409sYkd
    Giro Fixture Mips Helmet – https://amzn.to/3XKHsoZ
    Science In Sport Water Bottle – https://amzn.to/3WLLsV9
    Northwave Cycling Shoes
    Sunglasses

    Cooking Gear:
    Sea To Summit X Mug – https://amzn.to/3Hg7GJ1
    Light My Fire Spork – https://amzn.to/3Dncn2J
    Wine Bottle Opener 😉

    Tools:
    Lezyne HV Bicycle Hand Pump – https://amzn.to/3lHxnJc
    Park Tool VP-1Vulcanizing Patch Kit – https://amzn.to/409NhOC
    Crankbrothers M19 Multi-Tool – https://amzn.to/3j0A86D
    Squirt Long Lasting Dry Lube – https://amzn.to/3iWqYIf
    CTC Plastic Bag + packaging
    Inner Tube – https://amzn.to/3Dq1oFP
    Bike Lock – https://amzn.to/3HHcWqs

    Toiletries:
    Toothbrush
    Toothpaste
    Shaving Gel
    Mach 3 Razor – https://amzn.to/3j2bYsm
    Contact Lens Case
    Travel Schampoo bottle

    Camping Equipment:
    Naturehike Cloud Up 2 Tent – https://amzn.to/3aA1MTp
    Sea To Summit Collapsible Backpack – https://amzn.to/3RvanLP
    Aegismax UL Down Sleeping Bag – https://amzn.to/3BVCStv
    Aegismax Nano 2 Ultralight Sleeping Bag – https://amzn.to/3RcZcqR
    Sea To Summit Reactor Insulated Sleeping Bag Liner – https://amzn.to/409RLVs
    Nemo Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad – https://amzn.to/3Y98qGC
    Nabaji Microfibre Towel L – https://amzn.to/3Y3KDbh

    Electronics
    Samsung S20 – https://amzn.to/3Y544jR
    Dji Mavic Pro Drone – https://amzn.to/3FKsVBk
    GoPro Hero7 Black – https://amzn.to/3JoetTC
    Canon G7X Mark II – https://amzn.to/3XO7lnY
    Zoom H1N Recorder – https://amzn.to/409ewZA
    Rode Smartlav+ Lavalier – https://amzn.to/3RcZcqR
    2 Anker PowerCore 20000 mAh – https://amzn.to/3JpPxvg
    Bag Of Cables and Extra Batteries

    DISCLAIMER: This description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!

    31 Comments

    1. @Rlaplante73 on

      What a great day of bikepacking. Such beautiful scenery and paths to ride. I cracked up when I heard you use the phrase, 'me likey' 🙂 Here's the context, "This seems like an old abandoned railroad that they've made into a bike path, 'me likey!'" Blessings.

    2. @samhklm on

      Beautiful. France has its landmarks, but this land your videos is what makes France well French. Hope you are planning another trip to France.soon.

    3. @cyclistefroisse9267 on

      @11:19, Sorry but No.
      There’s a lot of technology involved in the construction of modern (or modernized) bike trails.
      Modern trails are self draining, you do not navigate your way avoiding puddles.
      Counterintuitively, when wet these bike lanes have a lower rolling resistance, for a reason which I can’t explain ( does the dust aggregates and fills, at granular level each and every tiny hole, Dunno ?).
      France is home of Civil Engineering giant corporations, Bouygues, GTM, Eiffage, Vinci (the later at some distance ahead of Skanska) which experiment, on home turf, with new construction technique such as zero VOC (Volatil Organic Compound), you don’t want to inhale carcinogenic stuff when you are cycling, do you ?
      Ditto, bike lanes across fragile ecosystems which release zero polluting run-offs in their close environment.
      Final coating is made out of sand+ extra fine gravel glued together with a vegetal glue, for the time being, AFAIK, there a small section of such a Green-track, a prototype, before Agde-Canal du Midi.
      If it lives up to its builders expectations, the technology will be exported worldwide.

    10. @rabh6746 on

      Thanks Mike, I forgot what the sun looks like😂Another nice ride in the French countryside, I'm glad the heat was more bearable for you this time👍Freezing fog here in Scotland today so no ride for me!

    14. @grazza-cm8oj on

      I use the Elite Fly water bottles same as you. But I use the MTB version, which comes with a cap. Much better for keeping the mouthpiece clean during dusty and dirty bike trips.

    17. @RedHeadAgent on

      Oh. My. Goodness…. the antique cars! It's crazy to see how dry everything is because of the heat. It's great to see you, Mike. Bourdeau is beautiful! So glad to see that you've been able to get a downhill ride every once in a while. It's so interesting to see how the topography changes and how the dryness changes. It's nice to hear your description of the evolution of getting used to riding on a trip; that's so important for us to hear. I'm excited to see your next video in St. Amion (sp?). A good video episode and great editing!

    19. @SB-hr5yr on

      I have been to France on many occasions, driven through many small towns and villages on a Sunday. They are like ghost towns. What do people do, stay in the house watching TV?

    20. @Two-wheeledCuriosity-yt3xo on

      I always plan ahead for Sundays when touring in France. Also beware that some businesses stay closed on Monday's. I always take a small stove setup to boil water, and a couple of dehydrated meals as a backup. This has saved me going hungry a couple of times. Loving your videos Mike!

    21. @3sons4fun20 on

      Hi Mike. Thank you for another great video! What was the app you use to find bike trails? And, have you ever thought about riding the US? Are there good bike routes in the US?

    25. @stevedavis8065 on

      I would agree that the municipal campsites are the best, I have been to quite a few where the facilities are really good and a lot have pools as well and reasonably priced. I have paid 22 euros in the summer in a 'non-municipal' campsite, just for a patch of rough ground! (near Uzes). The converted railway lines in France are a gem, most that I have been on have a tarmac surface but some however have that compacted sand type surface.

    26. @franknobody5965 on

      I love it!!! "Talking about the future", when you are referring to a camp ground in 20km! That's life on a bike. Most people would be referring to maybe next year? 😂😂. 👍👍👍

    27. @matryderadventures on

      Hi Mike. I'm really enjoying this series. One thing, I bought a Kona Sutra largely on your recommendation, I also fitted mudgurads because you had them. Now yours have gone..I'm curious why. Cheers, Mat.

    29. @Mark8v29 on

      A number of years before I purchased a bike, I considered an organised Cycling Holiday in which the company rented out bikes, pre-arranged hotels and transport of luggage so the cyclist could spend the day cycling and eating French bread and wine. The company mainly and perhaps exclusively used France as its destination with various regions for various landscapes from easy and casual to very hard cycling. Your videos remind me of this. Maybe France is in kind of a sweet spot between not so small that its more difficult, though not impossible, to find cycle-friendly routes of 40-60 miles (parts of the UK) and not so large (the US or Canada) that avoiding other traffic and connecting small population centres is more difficult. For sure the French landscape is visually relaxing and maybe also hits the sweet spot for artists? Some time I hope to spend a week in Paris looking at paintings, if there's an off-peak season in which I can do so. And now the sounds and sights of one of my favourite movies is playing in my imagination. For me there is one movie particularly that comes to mind when I think of France. And I also enjoyed your tour. I wonder if the segment is one of the highlights of the Velo 3? Maybe the thing about cycling is that many, maybe most countries are special when seen from a bike.The sweet spot of not too slow and not too fast!

    30. @guybrown4752 on

      21:56 Spot on video Mike. At the same time you were on this trip, I was cycling from London to Cannes along multiple Avenue Verte, including the Euro Velodrome 3. The French have invested millions in cycling routes which makes cycling there an absolute dream; it’s a cycling paradise as far as I’m concerned – I even enjoyed cycling through the heart of Paris!

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