Highest point during the day: 1340'
End Point: Luxveuil les Bains 1005'
Total climbing: 490'
Climbing difficulty factor: 41
Distance: 23 miles
Cumulative distance: 616 miles
As mentioned last night, I looked at my options and took the decision to stay in Bains-les-Bains only one night instead of my planned two. I studied the route ahead and saw that within 25 miles I would reach what I hoped would be a much nicer spa town called Luxveuil les Bains, and when I found a reasonably priced nice hotel literally on my route, I made a booking for Tues/Weds nights.
This effectively means I have changed my "3 cycle/1 rest" to "3.5 cycle/1.5 rest". It's a bit extravagant having one and a half days off, but I think I am safely going to make it to Wengen within a week, so time-wise, I can afford to do it.
The hotel I booked was via the Booking.com website, where you can look at a list of the hotel's facilities. I knew I was getting nearer to the Alps, when top of their list was....................ski lockers!
I had noticed on Monday night that my front tyre was a little down on pressure, not much, but just enough to notice. I checked again this morning, and decided it needed topping up, especially as my pannier bags are on the front axle.
Unfortunately, when I removed the valve cap, I noticed that the screw-in part was badly bent (see photo)
As I tried to pump up the tyre, I was losing more air out of the tube, than I was putting air in. I had a spare tube with me, but didn't fancy changing it at 9am outside my hotel. I was keen to get going, and decided that if the loss of pressure was only slight over two weeks, then a couple of hours would be fine today to get me to Luxveuil, where I could sort everything out.
My plan worked as I arrived safely in Luxveuil about noon. The route there was very nice. Some minor roads and a forest trail (which was most welcome, as it was much cooler than the 28 degrees in the sun). Here is a photo I took on the move in the forest:
When I arrived at my destination (after only 23 miles :-) easy!), I was shown to a very clean underground garage where I could store my bike. The receptionist left the key with me to lock up, as I said I wanted to do some repairs. The more I tried to pump up the tyre, the more it went down. Eventually, I decided to remove the wheel, and took it up to my room.
I had brought a spare tube with me so it was 10 minutes to take out the old one and put in the new one. On removing the old tube, the valve broke in two so it was now no good anyway.
However, I had similar problems trying to inflate the new tube. I got it to about 70% full but it wasn't really going further. I wondered if my 'compact' pump might be faulty?
Once I had freshened up and got changed, I took the wheel with me and asked reception for the nearest bike shop which was about 10 minutes walk away. I bought a new tube and got the current one fully inflated (All for 3.5 Euros!). Unfortunately, the bike shop was really a motorbike shop that did a few pushbikes on the side, so when I looked at their bicycle pumps, they had only the large pumps you use standing up. I didn't fancy carrying one of those on my back for the rest of the ride! So, over the next couple of days I will have to find a proper bike shop and replace my 'compact' pump.
On my way back from the bike shop, I looked for a supermarket, as my bedroom has a small kitchen area, and I though I might eat in. Then again, why not order a takeaway? How about this advert I saw on a parked van? A one metre long pizza...
Maybe not!
So, here I am. Back in my room. The wheel is on the bike. The Oasis drink is in the fridge. The TV has an English speaking news channel. And I can rest for 36 hours.
I have done the map again, but I have zoomed in so that the Swiss border can be seen. My sat nav is telling me that, as the crow flies, it is only 111 miles to Wengen. But following my route and many hairpin bends, it's nearer to 180 miles. I think that should take me 4 or 5 days, so if I do 3 straight days on Thurs/Fri/Sat, then rest on Sunday, I should reach Wengen on Monday or Tuesday next week. Fingers crossed!
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