30 July, 2019

However pointless the mission was it was mission accomplished after today’s ride. In July 1,145 miles / 1,843 kms cycled with 90,983 feet / 27,731 metres climbed and about 47,000 calories burned. Means nothing to anyone except me and I loved every mile of it.

29 July, 2019

Very gentle ride with Kay up the old railway line to Claviers returning along the Broves road.

And then it was a solo ride up to Col d’Avaye at 700m – from there it was a wonderful 10 miles of descending past Callian, through Montauroux, all the way down to the Lac de Saint-Cassien island. Nice.

28 July, 2019

Just wasn’t up for a ride today, knackered, but so glad I changed my mind and cycled down to Frejus Plage to meet Kay, Dave, Rebecca and the kids.

Man alive it was hot down there on the beachfront touching 40°C.

And the ride back from Frejus was even better than the ride down.

26 July, 2019

Last cafe ride of the week with Dave and it was up to Mons for coffee, views and more important to beat his time up there last year. Smashed it. Enjoyed riding with you this week buddy.

Two rides in one today but only because I’m mental. I set myself a monthly mileage target and one way or another it’s going to be met. Besides, I love riding my bike around here.

25 July, 2019

A big, hot and hilly ride up to Col de Cornille – 1,401m – and out to Gourdon today with close to 8,000ft of climbing. Approaching 90 miles on another 39°C day so it’s safe to say I’m now fit and acclimatised to the heat.

Meeting up with old friends on the road up from Bargemon to Col du Bel Homme. Saw this same tribe of goats at exactly the same spot when I came up this climb last year.

It really was a day of cols with Col du Bel Homme and Col de Clavel on the way up to Route Napoleon.

And Col de Cornille, Col de la Sine and Col de l’Ecre on the way to Gourdon. The panarama was taken just after I’d begun my descent from the Col de l’Ecre. Love this descent to Gourdon and then pretty much down all the way to Grasse. Crazy long and gets crazy fast.

23 July, 2019

Morning cafe ride with Dave but thinking we left a little late today. Getting hot again with another canicule on the way. By time we got back to Seillans my Garmin was reading 39°C.

22 July, 2019

Managed to squeeze in a ride over to Bargemon before we all set off for a morning on the pedelos at Lac de Saint-Cassien.

And then managed to incoroprate another ride by cycling to the lake. Third time Kay and I have been to play on the pedelos at Lac de Saint-Cassien this year, this time with Dave, Rebecca and the kids. Swim + bike today, only missing the run for my switch to triathlon. connect.garmin.com/activity/3870833068

21 July, 2019

Should also do more morning cafe rides. Cycling for the joy of cycling with Dave this morning. Coffee in Bargemon and there so long Kay thought I’d left my phone at the cafe when she stalked me.

First attempt at cracking my 2018 41:03 ride up to Mons from Seillans. Failed. Need to find 55 secs, most of it at the start of the climb. Plenty left in the legs when I got to Mons so I’d like to think sub-41 is possible.

19 July, 2019

It was back to Mandelieu this morning for another go up Montee du Grand Duc to Tanneron. Need to find close to a minute on this climb to beat my 2017 best but think it’s doable so doubt today will be my last time up it before I head home.

18 July, 2019

Another ride out to Claviers this morning with Kay – out through Broves and back down the old railway line. connect.garmin.com/activity/3857527841

Hot and hilly afternoon ride and for the first time rode the 550m – 1,800ft – climb from the bottom of the Gorges de la Siagne up to Mons.

En route to the Gorges de la Siagne from Callian and the days best photo op – the view over to Saint-Cezaire-sur-Siagne.

17 July, 2019

Can’t remember the last time I went for an evening bike ride but I should do it more often.

15 July, 2019

One for us to ride Dave when you’re over. You’ll either be climbing or coasting with not much in between. Coffee in Callian.

Dodging the rain and a thunderstorm with Kay on a coffee ride to Bargemon. Back to Seillans over Col de Saint-Arnoux. Well done you.

Only the second ride out for Kay this year and already she’s made it to Bargemon. Even more impressive she made it back over Col de Saint-Arnoux. Mons could be on again this year.

14 July, 2019

Repeat of a big ride out I did about this time last year. Down to Sainte-Maxime and along the coast to Saint-Aygulf/Frejus before heading inland up to Les Adrets and around Lac de Saint-Cassien back to Seillans.

12 July, 2019

A hit-the-hills ride. All nice and steady until the foot of a hill and then hit it hard.

And after hitting the hills a recovery ride with Kay up the old railway line from Seillans to Claviers and back again.

11 July, 2019

Long steady ride with plenty of climbing today. Good 20 minute effort up to Col du Testanier and the Les Adrets junction and happy days with a new fastest time beating my previous best from 2016.

Biggest climb today was a 450m – just under 1,500ft – leg tester up to Montee du Grand Duc from Mandelieu. Not that long at around 4.5 miles, or too steep with a 6% average gradient, but it was hot and the middle third is tough with sections up to 13%.

9 July, 2019

Broken my 2/3 riding rule this morning with a third day riding on the bounce. Up and over Col de Saint-Arnoux to Bargemon again. Love this climb, possibly my favoutite around here. Not too long at 4 miles and with a fairly constant 5% gradient.

Recovery ride with Roni up the old railway line from Seillans to Claviers and back again.

8 July, 2019

Well it’s taken 400+ miles since arriving in France but at last my fitness is improving and I’m finally beginning to feel comfortable on the bike again.

7 July, 2019

Nice early morning spin down to Roquebrune-sur-Argens and Frejus. Back through Les Adrets-de-l’Esterel. Always busy around Frejus so only fun to ride this route first thing on a Sunday. Even managed to miss all the pockets of rain which was a bonus.

Cascadeurs (Stuntmen) Hells Drivers at Saint-Aygulf between Roquebrune-sur-Argens and Frejus. I cycle past this showground every year and this is the first time I’ve stopped to see what’s going on. There’s freestyle motocross, stock cars, car transformers? and Monster trucks.

5 July, 2019

Always a tough ride this one. Up hill for 90 mins followed by a headwind on hot and heavy rolling roads pretty much all the way until the top of Col du Bel Homme – lovely descent from there to Bargemon though.

Bottom of the descent from Col du Bel Homme, overlooking Bargemon with Claviers in the distance.

4 July, 2019

Another nice route I like to ride around this area. Shame the Gorges de la Siagne road has deteriorated so much. With all the gravel and potholes it’s now like riding the roads back home in Worcestershire – yes it really was that bad.

Point du vue at St Cezaire sur Siagne. Located on a plateau at 475m this village dates back to Roman times. A really nice place to stop for lunch. Close by are Les Grottes de St Cezaire. Actually they’re sinkholes with caverns leading off and were discovered by a farmer in 1890.

2 July, 2019

Another really nice route I like riding out to Bargemon, virtually traffic-free, all on quiet back roads. A late start meant a hot finish.

1 July, 2019

Nice to be back in Seillans. First ride out took me over Col de Saint-Arnoux to Bargemon and Callas, returning along the main road to Fayence. Love riding this route.