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Summits of the Vosges massif and Alsatian vineyards
The road going up to the Planche des Belles Filles is very calm and the air is crisp. Even if my steel bike with the racks is still heavy, I could leave the panniers at the bottom of the climb and it makes it much easier to go up.
Mammenn, Chapter 2: Lorraine, Champagne and Île-de-France
I’m making use of a quiet afternoon under the shade to show you, with a bit of delay, the map of the 2nd chapter.
4 days in between the hills of the Jura and green lanes along the Doubs
That’s it! It’s the big day, the departure of Mammenn: 4 months biking and running around France. Months of planning coming to completion. It’s a long weekend, so Nevin can come with me for the first 4 days. After only 1 kilometer, we stop so I can distribute the weight differently. We are not off to a good start…
Mammenn Chapter 1, the home run: Jura, Vosges and Alsace
Tomorrow is the big departure! I’m experiencing a mix of anxiety and excitement. After all these months of planning, it’s finally happening! So here we go with chapter 1: from Lausanne, where I live, to Haguenau, whrere I grew up. It’s a bit like going from home to home. A less intimidating way of starting this big adventure.
How I dreamt and then made the itinerary of my trip
From my initial idea, to the books and maps that inspired me, the tools I used to map the itinerary and how I drew my map, you’ll find everything about the route of Mammenn here
Bicycle Touring Between Lake Neuchâtel and the Jura Massif
Yverdon-Les-Bains is a beautiful little town on the western tip of Lake Neuchâtel. I’m not immune to the charm of its center, with cobblestone streets and houses painted in terracotta and yellow shades. After refueling with coffee and apple pie, I change into short cycling bibs in the toilets of the bakery and wave goodbye to Yverdon. A few kilometers later, I stop at a closed campsite on the lakeshore to apply a generous amount of sunscreen on my legs. The rays of sun of the lake, sandy beach and tall pines make it feel like I’m somewhere on the Mediterranean.
Mammenn, the gear
All you want to know about what I’m bringing for 4 months around France on the bike and on foot.
Mammenn, the route
4 months, 6’000 kilometres, 80’000m of elevation gain, on the bike and on foot.
Mammenn, The Hexagonal 6’000
My Tour de France: 6’000 kilometers, cycling and running for 4 months, on the roads and trails of France. Called Mammenn, as a reference to my Breton origins, this project brings together my love for cycling, running and being outdoors, and my wish to (re)discover France.
Saintexpress, the headlamp ballet
I lift my head up and I see the moon appearing behind the clouds. This vision instantly lifts my spirit up, I relax and breathe a bit more lightly. I gaze in the distance, the snow and the moonlight allow me to see the distant lights of cities and villages lower down in the valley. There is no other place I’d rather be right now. I spent the last 3 months preparing for this precise moment.