Three weeks to escape.

“It was a public holiday and I was struggling. Everything was closed, and I stopped to ask for something to eat. I only wanted a few noodles to fill my cookset, but I ended up with a whole packet that I devoured, plus some ham kindly gifted to me!”. After three weeks crisscrossing the roads of Western France, Florian, our MONTAGEL (eGravel) ambassador, tells us his story through the kilometers, nights under the tent, and chance encounters.

On a whim, Florian announced that he wanted to cover over 1,800 kilometers in total autonomy on our electric Gravel bike. Everything moved very fast; in just a few days, he configured the bike himself. Most of the bags were designed and hand-sewn to fit the bike's geometry. The bikepacking adventure could begin. The first step was to reach Lyon by train. Upon arrival, he stopped by Grimpeurs Cyclist House, a well-known café among cyclists, before pushing off the pedals and leaving the city behind.

Using the Komoot app and his Wahoo GPS, Flo simply had to follow the pre-planned route. The goal was to stick as much as possible to secondary roads and converted former railway tracks all the way to the Véloscénie in Chartres. He crossed the Charolais region and its pastures; “There are great smells, you see animals and, above all, there’s no noise, it’s quiet.” He also crossed paths with other travelers: “There were these two guys heading to Sweden with music blasting from their bikes; we chatted for 20 kilometers about their anecdotes and their nights staying with locals.” The rest of the time, he would be alone with his bike, his thoughts, and the goal of finding a different wild camp every night. Often, it would be at a campsite to recharge the bike’s battery, and the traveler’s too. The welcome was always warm, even caring. A routine set in. Unpacking the bags. Pitching the tent. Preparing the grub: broth, noodles, sardines in oil.

And it all starts again at the break of dawn. On the road, Flo prioritizes small businesses, the few bakeries and bistros encountered along the way, which are always an opportunity to stock up, enjoy a treat, and sometimes take a break. The welcome is always friendly; it’s good, and it’s local. “And sometimes, they even give you extra portions when you’re a traveler. Connecting is easier, especially when you’re alone. Everyone has plenty of questions. Where are you from? Where are you going? And they are amazed!”. 

The days go by and Flo gets closer and closer to Mont Saint-Michel, one of the adventure's goals after crossing the Véloscénie with its rivers and tall grass. He crosses paths with some wild animals: rabbits, deer, pheasants, nutria, and some unidentified noises in the foliage… After three weeks, 1,800 kilometers, and a stop in Saint-Malo, he wants only one thing: to head out again. Electric bikes are accessible to everyone, he says: “I was blown away by the possibilities it offers you to go further… but the most important thing is the journey and the road you take. You have to go at your own pace, enjoy yourself, and have fun!”.

Today, Flo has just settled in Saint-Malo, where he still rides his MONTAGEL. He has also developed a new talent: creating custom bags for your adventures. Don't hesitate to share your projects with him!