It’s not cheating unless you’re in a race, what you did is called being realistic. I personally go bike touring to enjoy myself, not to set records or try to prove anything.
@@gusnuk68 Yeah, I didn't even think about that initially, I just put myself in his cycling shoes, the temperatures, and the load he's carrying. Trains and bikes are made for each other anyway. But an e-bike? Perhaps when I'm too old. I'm mid Seventies and doing distance and they still don't appeal to me, or to the elan of cycling.
I’m with you about taking the train. I don’t do well in the heat either and it makes perfect sense to cut some time off the trip. Your dinner looked delicious! Safe riding Mike!
No, you are being realistic as you have a schedule to keep and are contending with very hot to you temperatures. If you had no set schedule and are dealing with very unfavourable conditions then it is really up to you.
That was the smart move. Cycling in the heat when you are not used to it is a tough go. Not only is the heat killing you but you appetite is probably dead too which is bad for powering your engine. PS- duck confit in france sounds like heaven!
It's your vacation/tour, do it how you like! It's not a race. I have done mountain bike tours with a relentless pace and it's not that much fun that way. Some people need to get home for work, that was never the case in my situation. On one leg of the Divide tour the slowest guy in the group "called in sick" a few times and got sagged to the next campground. On another leg the next year he showed up at the starting point a day early and took off so that we had to catch him. Another time Fearless Leader thought I was much farther behind him than I actually was (we had radios and a ranch had moved its entrance so that it didn't match the map) and he just rode over the pass in the twilight and abandoned me to ride up and camp by myself beside a rock formation and a little creek. My last part of the route was done solo, and I missed the camaraderie, but enjoyed my freedom, and kept up a brisk pace nevertheless. I have never seen a Bordeaux drunk from a silicone cup, much less an orange one. And right in France! So shocking.
Mike the train trip was well deserved and you need to spoil yourself once in a while. You spoil us with the content of your vlogs as we share your adventures. The heat does take its toll and you made the right decision to take the train. See you out there!
Smart to take the train. 43c (109.4F) is too hot for most people. Heat stroke is no joke. You are there to enjoy the journey. Thank you for sharing. Cheers🌞🚴♀️🖖
Really loving your France videos! I actually was enjoying a beer when you had your glass of wine so I could "cheers" to you. :D Thank you for sharing your bicycle adventures!
Mike, I stay in India. The temperature in the summer ranges between 39°C to 43°C. in the summer season. During that time I don't cycle from 9 am to 8 pm. It's not your Nordic blood, any human will be uncomfortable to cycle. Taking the train is the most prudent decision. It's the journey to enjoy, that matters. And you are doing just that. Keeping riding. Hopefully in 2024, I have France and/or Pamir Highway. Atb, That Travelling Guy....
Wow, those are two great adventures, but very different. France is very comfortable to bike tour in, everything is very organized. But I'm guessing the Pamir Highway is a once in a lifetime experience.
@@BikeTouringMike it's brutal. And when doing it unaided, one has to have a lot of preparation. Once out there in no man's land if something is needed and you don't have it, you're done for. Not just that, the weather can be at extremes and so also the altitude. Hence I don't want to rush in. I'll take my time in both planning and preparation. Let's see how it goes. Atb, That Travelling Guy....
43C (109F) is no joke. I'm from Arizona, USA and deal with high temperatures during the summer BUT it doesn't have the humidity you dealt with. What a great ride...and a great series of videos. Thx for bringing us along Mike!!!!
I agree with @thattravellingguy it gets that hot here in Texas as well. Hot is hot and heat exhaustion is no fun. You did the right thing by hopping on the train. Stay cool out there!
My experience with the train in France is that it's a nightmare (both for the trains and the stations), to the point where I've just decided that I will never do that again.
if you constantly struggle with time, you risk that the fun disappears.. so I think you do the right thing to enjoy the rest of the trip .. that's what it's all about.. And an important detail.. when it's as hot as it is.. you have to be careful and take the heat seriously..
Can’t even imagine riding in those temperatures! What a trooper you are. Enjoying the stories and loving seeing the landscapes and towns of France through a cyclists eye.
Bonjour Mike, Super trip ! The things you tell in your travel about temperature it's because last year we had a record of heat in France we called it "canicule" it's not normal weather it's because of climate changes, french people in south usually deal better with hot weather and sunshine, but up north or middle side they never have more than 34c in the summer. The last years were pretty crazy in that way... Anyway last year was on maximum heat everywhere in the country, heat was coming from sahara (Africa), it was not appropriate even to practice any sports because of the temperatures...you did it well, better be safe than ride and had aaccident or start to turn sick ! For south french man like me i will never try to ride with that 43 degrees !! Well done Mike and thanks a lot for sharing your adventures with u, i'm just discovering the channel 🙂 Best !
I think mixing trins and cycling can be the recipe for a great holiday. In fact, my last two bike holidays revolved around that concept. Tvo years ago I brought my touring bike along Inlandsbanan, and cycles some bits, and took the train on others.. And of course I took the train back most of the way from Jokkmokk to Stockholm. And last summer I bought my road bike along on an interrail holiday. Which was kind of less of a success and, partly due to bad planning from my side and lack of experience, I ended up taking lots of trains and cycling very ittle.
Definitely not cheating Mike to take the train! Giving your body a chance to recover from the excessive heat might be just what you need to enjoy the rest of your trip. Good luck!
As a long time follower I must say your videos are improving a lot. Good combination of images and sound. Keep it up! Enjoyed this honest and realistic episode very much❤
I am from texas. We have a lot of days that are this hot per year. However, I would never consider riding a bike in those temps for that many miles. Definitely NOT cheating to take the train. It’s smart. Please take care. Love your videos!!
I don’t think you’re cheating. I did exactly the same thing in France this year. Due to work and family commitments I was able to skip the North and head down South for the better weather. Great video! Thank you.
No cheating involved at all. Long-distance touring in near 100 degree weather is not much fun and can be quite dangerous. You are on a Tour, and not in a Race. You did what your body told you to do - good job. Enjoy the rest of the trip Mike, and enjoy that French cuisine....and that fruit of the vine!
On a bike trip from Palermo to Rome (on a fixed gear bike) I also had to do a little FF, I don't regret it at all. The refreshed energy made the next days a lot more enjoyable. Still had an amazing trip.
In Perth Australia even the flys walk during a heatwave. Hats off to you mike, we are in the middle of a heatwave here so ride at 6am and are home in the air conditioning by 10! Even being acclimatised we wouldn’t contemplate riding through the heat of the day as you are. Must be your nordic stubbornness coming out in you🙂
I once had a ride on my recumbent bike from Bazel to Rotterdam where I live. Also crazy hot day, not 43 celcius, but hot. Last day I drove 160 km. Inormally do not drink Coca Cola, but I seemed to need it. Perhaps 4 times I stopped for a small bottle.I had the same in the pyrenees, climing all day. I wanted Coca Cola. Perhaps it is the sugar you looking for, I do not know. But 43 celcius is to hot. I understand you had a hard time. France is my favorite country to go on holiday. I never wear a helmet, but a light cap.
Wow, this was nice and so relaxing apart from the heat. Personally, it would be imposable for me to bike in 43C which is why I avoid Europe in the summer and go late September. I am from Toronto and we get 40C once or twice in the summer and I stay home with the A.C. Cheating, no way, I did this in my Tour of Switzerland and was able to sneak into Austria and Germany along Lake Bodensee at Friedrichshafen. i will binge watch this series in December. Thanks Mike
Hi Mike ! I was cycling in France in July and August, it was so hot, when I arrived in Avignon the temperature was about 40 degrees celsius… then I gave up , took the train and finish my 5 months biketour.
Wow, Mike, what a great day. You were wise to take some pressure off by taking a train than of possibly missing your connection to head back to Sweden. The main thing is to enjoy your travels in France. Those temperatures are brutal. I live in Florida USA so know what hot temps are like to ride a bike. PS. That meal looked AMAZING!!
I have cycle toured using trains in France for the last 7 years and have always found it to be a rewarding experience. Even when there have been strike problems there has been a solution.
Train = cheating E-bike = cheating Anything can be considered cheating. We do not need judging in our life. Mike please continue bike touring and making videos. So inspiring. Thank you
After nearly getting hit many times by Indian trucks (and actually getting hit once), I took a bus across a particularly dodgy stretch in Uttar Pradesh once. I didn’t feel at all guilty about it.
I can't find anything bad about it at all, it's probably more of a mental matter that you admit to yourself that you can't drive the entire route that you imagined at the beginning and that's why you take the train - thanks for the nice video and the inspiration and for coming forward Find time to appreciate the cuisine and landscape and it's not just about sporty, torn kilometers in your video
Its such an odd thing that we do to ourself. Once on the bike its all go go, its OK to make it easier when circumstances change. I did the same tour in reverse in September and when i got to Paris it was to cold to cycle to Dunkirk. Hopped on a train to Bordeaux instead and what a pleasure, its a holiday after all. Cant wait for the next instalment. Top job Mike. PS, knock on doors for water, they are all happy to help.
Cars, planes, trains...It is all party of the adventure. And who cares?!?! Like someone else said, this is not a competition or a race, this is your vacation.,...and you need to get home on time. What you have seen so far and what you have shared with us has been wonderful. 36*-42*!!!! Get back on the train! Your editing and choice of music was well done.
Another beautiful ride Mike, you were never going to get back on schedule in those temps so you did the right thing taking the train👍Of course its not cheating, you have to be sensible in temps like that! I was riding in sub zero temps today, I much prefer that to riding in searing heat! Not that its ever too hot in Scotland😂
Unless you're an EFI type guy, no, it's not cheating. It is being realistic giving a fixed schedule and inhospitable weather conditions. After all, why are you doing the trip? If it's for pleasure, then you do what is needed to enjoy the trip instead of making it a suffer-fest. The trip looks fantastic and the route is one I'd love to do. Thanks for sharing your travels.
It is not cheating, it is reasonable. A few years ago I went from Prague to Paris by bike and last 300 km I went by train because I had no time. I wasn't trained well for this long journey :). I fully understand to your decision.
I agree. When sitting down and planning a bike tourit's really difficult to estimate what the roads and conditions are going to be once you get there and start riding.
Hi Mike, I like watching your films. I also miss it when you, Daren, and that Australien guy travel together. Why dis you switch from your old panier setup to this new setup without fenders? Take care and greetings from Germany!
I really enjoy each of your videos. When you run out of water, why don't you ask the people you meet along the road? We French don't bite 😇 ! Just kidding!
Of course not, public transport is perfectly acceptable in order to achieve your goals and deal with bad (hot) weather etc. As long as you dont try to claim some sort of record for distance cycled or speed. You are doing this for enjoyment, dont beat yourself up. Have fun. Warwick.
Taking a train is not cheating. It’s your ride. But if you run out of water in France, most cafés or bars will be happy to fill you bottles for you. In my experience they are much more likely to offer you ice cubes in the water than to turn you down.
Any time it is more than 32 c /90 f you need to reduce your activity. Anything over 38c / 101f you need to find alternates such the train. These higher temps that we are seeing need to be addressed with a go / no go question. Working or riding above 38c is a health risk. So no you are not cheating; you are being sensible in the face of extreme weather. Don't let your testosterone make decisions for you.
You and Ryan need to realize that you can buy an open-ended Return plane ticket, before you leave for your trip. That way when things go wrong, as they almost always do, you won't be so rushed. An open-ended ticket allows you to return when you're ready. You're so rushed, I'm afraid you're going to give yourself an ulcer. Just something to consider in the future.
Nope. Not cheating. Just a different part of the experience. If you were challenging yourself or in a race it would be. Thanks for sharing this with us
No shame taking the train, same as sometimes you may have to walk up really steep hills. I've found French trains very good for taking a bike. The problem is now more people are cycling the demand for spaces has increased. I'm sure the train companies will know this and provide more places for bikes.
Shame on you! Call yourself a bikepacker?! Haha.. just kidding my friend, iv jumped on public transport many times when I'm pushed for time. Loving the adventure mike. Take care buddy
Hey Mike, im looking at Eurovelo 6 between Basel and Nantes however for the first 170k not a single campground is shown. How do you go about finding a campsite each day and is there a goto website
Not cheating at all. We did exactly the same in 2022. We got the train from Montpellier North to try and escape the heat. We intended to ride from Girona to Rotterdam but cut out a chunk. Our highest was 40 degrees and that was far too hot for us. The train we got north was full of bike packers escaping the heat. That’s climate change I suppose!
Man må nyte ferien , eller semesteret som dere sier i Sverige …! Det er jo noe av opplevelsen å ikke vite alt som skjer …tog er ikke nederlag , det er nederlag når ferien bare har vørt stress….her utenfor Oslo i morgen er det meldt minusgrader , men sol , da skal jeg på sykkeltur …juhu
BLOODY CHEAT!! Nah, just kidding. Of course it's OK to get the train when the situation calls for it - weather, time, or maybe you just stop somewhere really nice and want to enjoy it for another day - I do it all the time, and when I lose some weight and start touring on my Brompton (I am currently OVER it's listed maximum capacity) train travel will be part of the itinerary to avoid going up mountains and boring bits. It's a holiday - no need to punish yourself.
Stop giving yourself a hard time ,You're out to enjoy yourself it's not as though you've entered a marathon & taken the bus .I wouldn't even go out in that heat lol .
If you allow people to complain/whine about something (as many of them fail in critical thinking skills) they will do so. I could share tons of testimonials in their motive to SABOTAGE what you enjoy/love doing.
