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Written by: Nigel Stevens

I’ve been part of a small group of EKAM members that have toured abroad each year for a few years now. We originally got together because we thought a few days of intensive riding on really challenging roads would be a good way of developing our riding and it was such a success we’ve been doing it ever since. The format was simple, catch the ferry together, look at the weather forecast and decide where to go that day, ride until tired, find a campsite for the night. Repeat until the rear tyre is worn out (that was usually the limiting factor hence most trips were around eight or nine days). Keeping the group small was key, it gave us flexibility and allowed each individual to focus entirely on their riding which at this level was crucial, especially given some of the roads we were riding on. Others started showing an interest in our trips but organising a group tour the way we did it just wouldn’t work, so I looked into the possibility of having a fixed base and riding out from there each day.  We looked at where to do it and although there are several regions of France that have some great riding none in my view have the diversity and challenges offered by the Massif Central, it’s a region we just kept going back to. It was far enough for folk to have a bit of an adventure getting there if they wanted to, yet close enough to be done in one determined day if necessary (as Brian proved!).

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