The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

French Pyrenees Foothills: Atlantic to Mediterranean

September 15th to September 30th

Ride Director: Lucy Glover
Ride Co-Director: Randy Glover
Ride Driver: Jeff Messerschmidt
Report by: Patricia Olson

This 2-week Atlantic to the Mediterranean tour began in the coastal city of Biarritz, France. Long attracting health seekers for the sea breezes and spa treatments, the eclectic community now blends a mix of sophisticated spa travelers with the free-spirit surf culture. No cruise ships dock this rocky coastal area of the proud Pays Basque region, long known for its whaling history. It was a perfect location to arrive, assemble bikes and sightsee.

Our veteran Ride Leaders, Lucy & Randy Glover, last led the tour in 2017 and announced to all it would be their last “Go ‘Round”. Ahhh, with that, and a tip of our berets, our group of 24 ‘cyclistes’ began our steady march from the western edge of the Pyrenees to the eastern destination of Collioure, France, along the Foothills of the Pyrenees.

Daily routines were what we’ve come to expect: eat breakfast by 7:30-8:00, suitcases in luggage van by 9:00, and the days were yours to cycle with a partner, or a small group, to stop when and where you wanted along the way. There were 10 group dinners, preceded by a Happy Hour and riders were encouraged to sit with a new group get to know each & every person on the tour. Everyone took advantage of that and the riders bonded as often only a mutual point-to-point effort can do. It should be mentioned here that our van driver, Jeff was amazing. His support of riders, his unasked for unloading and organization of our bags was truly above & beyond. Having our bags transferred is a luxury and his efforts were much appreciated.

After 14 nights and many miles pedaled, we arrived in the destination village of Collioure, loaded with its history of nation conquering, anchovy fishing, refuge-seeking Spaniards fleeing Franco and thriving artist colony. Our two-night stay was in probably the most quaint, wellappointed accommodation of the tour. Perfect exclamation point on a fabulous 2 weeks.

There were a few flats, bike shop mechanics utilized along the way, but no medical emergencies and no bicycle accidents occurred. Also, no shower falls!

Here are some tour highlights shared with this reporter along the way:

…Didn’t hear a native English-speaker on the entire tour

...Overnight stays in quiet, authentic French countryside villages (read: not tourist hubs or instagram

magnets)

…hearing village bells toll on the hour and especially robust peals at noon

….the French Pyrenees culture of protecting the night sky with signage posted at village entrances to turn off lights after 11:00pm

….perfectly placed 2-night stays in larger villages with historical interest, or thermal spas or visit-worthy bike shops, or hillside rambles

….overnight stays that afforded the opportunity to climb iconic cols: Tourmalet, Superbagnéres, Col d’Aspin … Observing the signage and intersections of multitudes of ‘chemins’ or walking paths for pilgrimages or long-walkers.

….good road quality, seeing a road cycling culture most evident in villages at bases of climbs, polite drivers, delicious food morning, noon and evening This tour was a perfect way to wrap up one’s cycling season. While it didn’t provide jawdropping views day after day, the routes quietly seep into your bones. It will be returned to many times over the winter months as people scroll through their multitudes of photos taken along the way~