A Cobbled French February Weekend

It is the time of year again when we want to be doing longer days in the saddle. The forecast for here in Derbyshire at the weekend was heavy rain, interspersed with rain and wind.

I flick through my instagram and see pictures of friends riding in Australia, the USA and Mallorca, and no rain.

We needed a break from the rain.

So where can we get to, leaving here after school on Friday and returning in time for school on Monday morning with no rain and good cycling? The answer this weekend was the North of France, with the cycling being some of the Paris Roubaix pavé.

 Ann dropped us at Busigny which is near the start of the cobbles.

Soon enough we were upon the pavé.

Sunshine and blue skies. Tick.

We rode south.

We stopped for Tom's favourite.

Shortly after we rendezvoused with our friend Sophie, who we'd first met on the French Divide.

Below Tom and Sophie at the end of the Arenberg cobbled section.

The original plan was to ride to Roubaix, but one of Tom's hands was quite sore after 110 kms, so we called it a day at Orchies.  Strava here.

On Sunday it was my daughter's birthday, so no bikes, instead there would be pastries and the search for a birthday cake.

Our friend Céline who lives in Lille had kindly offered to show us round and find these things as well as show us the sights.

Here's Tom with breakfast.

Tom and Céline.

A rare picture of the Birthday girl with her Merveilleux Birthday cake.

Family, friends, bikes, cake and no rain, except on the drive back home. To be repeated.

11,000 miles - February Talks.

Some details of the talks Tom and I are doing over the next couple of months.

In the last 6 years Tom has cycled 11,000 miles. We'll be talking about some of the highlights of his cycling so far. 24 hour mountain bike racing at Strathpuffer, a 2000 mile ride through France last summer, Oh and if I forget to mention it, ask him about the time he fell asleep on his bike.

The first on the 16th of February is at Craigdon Mountain Sports in Edinburgh, from 19:00 to 21:30. Hosted by  Markus Stitz from Bikepacking Scotland. Tickets for which can be purchased via this link here along with further details.

Next up on the 19th of February, we are talking from 19:00 -22:00 at the New Continental in Preston.
Tickets are available via this link here. Alpkit will also be there that evening to show of some of their bikes and gear.

Oh, and though March isn't in February if you can't make either of the above events we'll be at Shaff doing a shorter talk to accompany the showing of "Tom Seipp - A Mountain Journal Short" (as seen on Channel 4's Life on the Edge)

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