FRANCE’S SOUTH POLE
1000 km by bike to the southernmost point of mainland France
A few months after my solo expedition to the geographic South Pole in Antarctica, I set off with Chilowé for a bike ride across France. Chilowé is a community (and a guide) that unearths the best microadventures in France.
The idea was to bring Notre-Dame de Paris to the southernmost point of mainland France, and show that you don’t have to go far to have a real adventure!
The result: 1,000 km in 6 days, as many nights under the stars and swimming in rivers. France, what a beautiful country! Cock-a-doodle-doo!
At the geographic South Pole in Antarctica, reading the Chilowé guide to the best micro-adventures in France. I’ve just completed a MACRO-adventure: reaching the South Pole solo, without assistance or resupply. Time for micro-adventures!
“Chilowé’s motto is: “The guide who’ll get everyone out! Experience adventures in the wilderness that are more local and respectful of the environment.
Here’s what I took with me to the South Pole Chilowé.
ADMINISTRATIVE: ID card, bank card, carte vitale, notebook + pencil.
ELECTRONICS: 1 external battery, iPhone + cable + charger, Wahoo GPS + cable + charger, earphones.
HYGIENE: toothbrush + toothpaste, hard soap, microfiber towel, sunscreen.
CLOTHING: 1 cycling shorts, 1 jersey, 1 windbreaker, 1 pair of leggings, 1 pair of cuffs, Buff, 1 Chilowé cap, 1 pair of shorts, 1 T-shirt, 1 down jacket, 1 pair of boxer shorts, 2 pairs of socks, 1 pair of sunglasses, 1 pair of mittens, 1 pair of Vans, 1 pair of cycling shoes.
CAMP EQUIPMENT: sleeping bag, ground sheet, bivvy bag, headlamp, Swiss Army knife, musette bag.
BIKE EQUIPMENT: 2 tire levers, 2 inner tubes + patches, bike repair multi-tool, pump, helmet, rear light, 3 Apidura panniers (saddle, belt and frame).
With Thibaut (co-founder of Chilowé and better known as Toucan Loufoque)
we’ve arranged to meet on July 15, 2019 at the foot of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris,
just a few kilometers from our Paris apartments. Sacha Benitah
We’ve mapped out an itinerary in advance, with the aim of seeing as few cars as possible. To reach the South Pole of France, we’ll be going straight through 15 départements! We’ve given ourselves 6 short days, so we’ll need to cover at least 160 km a day.
We’re accompanied by Sacha Benitah (also known as the Baroudeur Monkey), who is here to take pictures of our adventure to the South Pole.
First night under the stars on the banks of the Etang de la Gazonne in the Loiret region. We chose to set off ultra-light with saddlebags and handlebar bags, to be as quick and self-sufficient as possible. We spend our nights under the stars, sleeping in a sleeping bag with a waterproof overbag.
Sometimes we take dubious routes with the sole aim of reaching a lake or river.
To wash, we jump fully clothed into the rivers we come across. In the heat of the day, we dry very quickly and our baths rinse our salt-encrusted clothes.
At the end of the day, we set off in search of a supermarket to stock up on provisions for dinner. We load up our panniers with sausage, cheese and bread, and our pockets with fruit and vegetables, to ride the last few kilometers of the day and dine in front of a sunset.
Temperatures are almost scorching, and any public tap is a good excuse to cool off and fill up the water cans.
In the same way, any shady spot is a good place for a siesta. Here in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, I’m taking advantage of some downtime when Sacha is having a spoke repaired on his rear wheel.
Our road sometimes cuts across fields, giving way to dirt and gravel tracks. At the end of the day, the climb up to Issoire, south of Clermont-Ferrand, takes its toll on our legs.
Thibaut and I have Pelago Stavanger Outback bikes, which allow us to move seamlessly from one surface to another.
After a long day on the road, we collapse under roadside trees for the night.
In the Cantal region, we pass the impressive Garabit viaduct, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1884.
You don’t have to go to the Caribbean to go snorkeling. The Tarn and its turquoise waters in Aveyron.
Around 11pm, we come across a pharmacy on duty. This is a godsend, because Sacha is suffering from an inflamed Achilles heel which is starting to get worse.
We push 10 km into the night to keep our daily distance of 160 km and find a quiet place to bivouac.
Up and at ’em! When he wakes up, Sacha doesn’t feel like spending 8 hours on the bike.
His Achilles heel is sore and it’s best to do the day’s stage
by train and bus. Sacha Benitah
Thibaut and I cross the Larzac.
Around 11pm, we come across a pharmacy on duty. This is a godsend, because Sacha is suffering from an inflamed Achilles heel which is starting to get worse.
After almost 900 km, we reach the Mediterranean Sea at Leucate. We take the opportunity to take a dip.
Ride Eat Sleep Repeat. Headlamp departure at 5am from Céret in the Pyrénées Orientales.
We’ve already been driving for a few hours towards France’s southernmost commune, when the sun rises over the mountains.
We arrive in Lamanère, the southernmost commune of mainland France. There are 41 inhabitants.
The southernmost point of mainland France lies on the border with Spain, at the summit of Puig de Coma Negra, which is only accessible on foot. We leave the bikes in Lamanère to tackle the final ascent on foot.
After a 2-hour climb, we reach a signpost: the Chilowé South Pole!
On top of Puig de Coma Negra. Behind me, France. In front of Spain.
With Toucan Loufoque and Singe Baroudeur, we had to ride 1000 km, climb 9000 meters of positive altitude difference and cross 15 French departments to plant the Chilowé flag at the South Pole. We rode for 6 days on the back roads and trails of France, sleeping under the stars and washing in rivers.
With Chilowé, we wanted to show what you could do with a bike from home and experience a responsible, environmentally-friendly adventure in France.
The France Bleu article can be found here. Many thanks to our partners Pelago and Steel Cyclewear & Coffeeshop.
