SearchCycling to Rome: Day 2 (Dover to Ypres)
Sunday 11 June 2023
Alex writes: An early start this morning and onto the ferry for the crossing to Dunkirk.
A word about the bikes
As we secured our bikes on the car deck I mused on the different approaches we had taken to preparing bikes for the tour. John and Bill had perhaps the more traditional approach with metal bikes and rim brakes (a steel Condor Fratello and titanium Burls respectively) with rear panniers. Glyn and I had carbon bikes with disc brakes (Trek Domane SLRs, 2017 models) with both bar bags and saddle bags. I was on tubeless tyres (32mm Continental Grand Prix 5000), eveybody else was running tubes: Michelin Pro Endurance 4 28mm (John), Continental 4Seasons 32mm (Glyn), and Continental Gatorskins 28mm (Bill). So far, no punctures.
Today's ride
After a smooth crossing we disembarked at Dunkirk and very soon were cycling on quiet rural roads. It was already very hot and by time we reached the lunch stop in Bergues it was 37°C.
Suitably fortified by crêpes, salads and ice cream we pressed on, crossing into Belgium and working against a niggling headwind. The landscape was pan flat with occasional irrigation channels - like a nice version of the Fens.
Once in Ypres we made a beeline for a bar and some cold beers. I am feeling better than I did at the start of the tour. John is "mildly stressed", Bill is unstressed and Glyn feels "no fatigue whatsoever".
Word of the day: blister.
>>> Next: Day 3 to Maubeuge