Riding in the Rain to Roanne

Day 23 – Digoin to Roanne, France — 36 miles  

The forecast last night called for heavy rain for most of today, so we seriously considered taking the day off. But when we woke up, the forecast had changed to light showers, so we decided to put on our rain gear and ride to Roanne.  

The trip turned out to be a pleasant surprise—it was almost entirely flat, on a well-maintained, beautiful rail-to-trail bikeway. With no car traffic to worry about and only a very light but consistent rain, we rode through gorgeous countryside and arrived in Roanne almost completely dry. It was a wonderful autumn ride in the rain. Our rain gear is exceptional, and it’s good to know, as we head into autumn and increasing rainfall.  

We had dinner and went to bed early. We’re both pretty fatigued, with tired legs and tender, sore undersides. We’re looking forward to our planned extended break in Lyon, France. We’re only one ride away, but it’s a tough one—our first real challenging ride since Wales.