Day 9 (Wed) - Valence to Montelimare

Stats for the day

Distance travelled 34.3 miles
Average speed 11.2 mph
Max speed 30.6 mph
Time 3.02 hrs
Total dist 658 miles

Started from Valence in light rain for the first half hour, it then brightened and sun shone all day with a temperature up to 30 deg at midday. Lovely ride through rural France frightened a few chickens in a couple of farmyards on the way great fun! One big climb at Col de Deves only 458 metres but took us 30 minutes to climb followed by a great descent with views over the plains of Provence. Stopped at a little bakery to buy some lunch and met an old Belgian couple who were keen cyclists but thought like everyone else we’ve met that we must be mad.

Within 20 mins Richard's chain broke again (old chain, new chain still in the cycle bag) and this time catastrophically it ripped the derailleur gear off the bike and bent the frame bracket that supports it. Patched it up with one gear only and limped into Espeluche where Richard got a taxi to the bike shop in Montelimare while Oli had to cycle! The bike shop did a tremendous job and rebuilt the running gear in less than 3 hrs (Euro 150). So we are not bust yet but very nearly thought we were...

Found a little motel nearby to stay for our enforced rest afternoon and even found time for a swim in the warm evening temperature before dinner. Have devised a plan to make up the time over the next 2 days and still hope to be in Monte Carlo on schedule (Sat). Very early start tomorrow (at dawn) and hoping everything goes well.

ps Lucked out in our hotel tonight because they gave us a big room to fit the bikes in as well as ourselves AND they also have a lady cycling team staying here (French and they all look good in lycra!)

By complete chance our revised route for tomorrow takes us through a number of the major Rhone apellations – Cairanne (mentioned this before), Bacqueyres, Gigondas, and within spitting distance of beaumes de venise. Think we'll be pushed to fit in a tasting though.

Richard has never cycled more than 85 miles in a day but Oli being the expert reckons breaking the ton is nothing – we may find out tomorrow!

Haven’t seen TV or newspapers since Dover so if anyone fancies updating us on any important news (Arsenal, Leyton Orient (who?) or West Ham) feel free.