Coasts and Cols Tour - Day 7 - 'Rest Day in The Corbieres'

Today, a rest day. A break for the legs.

A gentle spin. Chilling out and chatting. A beautiful dog walk. All rounded off, by a fantastic cassoulet in Carcassonne.

A perfect rest day, with Augustus and Sarah Farmer, in their beautiful home.

Check out some more of Gus's great photos at augustusfarmer.com



Labels:


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bike Profile: Kona Private Jake

Image
My Kona Private Jake is a seriously versatile bike, and probably the most used of ' My Rides '. From commuting to racing; from weekend-blasts to two week tours; the Private is a do-it-all rig. I haven't changed a huge amount in terms of the specification of the bike, but there have been some subtle tweaks and alterations. Here's how it is currently set up... Bike Specifications: Frame: Kona Race Light 7005 Aluminium Butted - Medium/Large Fork: Kona Carbon Headset:  Full Speed Ahead Stem: Kona Road Deluxe Handlebar: Kona Road Front brake:  TRP Sypre disc brakes 160mm rotor Rear brake:  TRP Sypre disc brakes 140mm rotor Rear derailleur: SRAM Rival Clutch Mech 11spd Shift levers: SRAM Rival 1X Cassette:  SRAM Rival 11-32 11spd Chain: KMC 11spd Crankset:  SRAM Rival  Bottom bracket: SRAM Rival Pedals: Shimano M520 pedals Wheelset:  Novatec 30 Disc Wheelset  Front tyre: WTB Cross Boss Tubeless Rear tyre:  WTB Cr...
Keep reading

Review – SunRace CS MX80 (MX8) 11-46T Cassette for SRAM

Image
If you are running a SRAM Force or Rival 1X drivetrain set-up, then you may well find yourself wishing for a lower gear, especially on bikepacking adventures. The SunRace MX80 / MX8 11-46 tooth cassettes supply two additional low ratio gears than you get on the standard 11-42T SRAM cassette. That is an upgrade worth considering... On my Kona Sutra LTD build , I was concerned about a lack of low end gear spread for the Tour Divide . Whilst pure grunt will usually get you up most things on an 11-42T cassette, I thought with the cumulative fatigue and long climbs on this 21 day bikepacking route, I might need something lower... SRAM rate their SRAM Rival and Force 1X rear derailleurs as suitable for a maximum of a 42-tooth cassette—I was keen to see if the SunRace MX80 and MX8 cassette would work with the derailleurs and provide that sought-after lower gear possibility. You may well not have heard of the SunRace brand, but you likely have heard of Sturmey Archer—the iconic hub gea...
Keep reading

Review – Kostüme Cycle Wear Jersey and Bib Shorts

Image
Kostüme's approach is different. Rather than warehouses full of stock, end of season sales and out of stock sizes, Kostüme operates a pre-order setup: they release an edit of a cool new design, and you place a pre-order within their ten day window. Once all orders are in, Kostüme make the kit, and you get your bespoke apparel delivered. I am a great supporter of the pre-order manufacturing approach. Yes, you might have to wait 6-8 weeks to get your new cycling jersey, bibs and gilet, but that just requires a bit of prior planning. Pre-ordering reduces waste, enables more frequent changes in design, and is ultimately better for everyone's wallets. Kostüme aren't just different in their manufacturing approach though, their kit also has some of the most daring and interesting graphical design work of cycling jerseys I have worn to date. Thanks to their collaborations and partnerships with world-famous artists, they can bring to life jerseys that will turn everyone's h...
Keep reading

Best Gravel Bike Cycling Routes on the Isle of Wight

Image
I ride a gravel bike on the Isle of Wight more than I ride any other; it is the perfect way to explore the vast network of quiet roads and exciting open trails. In this post, I have tailor-made a selection of the best gravel cycling routes on the Isle of Wight, with suggested pit-stops and highlights. The Isle of Wight roads, trails, and tracks are my home. I have toured all over the world, but whenever I come back to this small island off the South Coast of the UK I am amazed at how diverse and beautiful the riding is here. 'The Island' is very easy to get to with a bike—use one of the three car ferry routes from Portsmouth, Lymington or Southampton; or come as a foot passenger and bring your bike for free on the Wightlink FastCat  from Portsmouth Harbour train station. You can get to the Island from Central London in just a little over three hours. Once you are here, there is a plethora of bike-friendly accommodation: from hotels and B&B's to campsites and Eco-l...
Keep reading

Review – Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Superflow Saddle S3

Image
The Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Superflow Saddle is designed for gravel bike riding. Featuring gel inserts to reduce vibration, titanium saddle rails to absorb trail buzz, and a sleek low-profile design to offer style and performance—this is a saddle made for adventure. The SLR Boost Gravel is Selle Italia's latest offering for the growing Gravel segment of the market; engineered specifically to enhance riding comfort on difficult terrain and during endurance gravel events. Available in two sizes, I opted for the smaller version (S3), and have been testing it out over the last month… I have become a great advocate of the cut-away design for saddles—it offers greater flexibility in the centre of the saddle and reduces pressure on the sensitive perineum region. The SLR Boost Gravel Superflow is a superb example of this kind of saddle design; with a cutaway section, short nose, and flared sides to effectively support your seat bones. To improve comfort on rough terrain, Selle...
Keep reading