I have never looked forward to a coach journey as much as today. Back in 2003 I took a European Bike Express Coach from a collection point just off the M25 down to Orange in France for a week cycling in the Alps. While it was a bit expensive and a bit of a grind (16 hours with a few ‘cat-naps’, arriving at 6:30am) I liked the concept, as it avoided flying. So given the limited time available on this trip I had been keen to explore what bike-carrying Flixbuses could offer to cut out some of the long, hot days in the saddle.

Booking 5 weeks in advance, the 5 hour 55 minute journey from Paris to Lyon had cost me just £19.48 (£13.49 + £5.99 for the bike). Being an empty bus I had also splashed out on the front seat for an additional £3.99.  

After a 5:30am alarm, I quickly packed up and headed round to the Port Maillot Bus Depot. After waiting (needlessly) for the platform to appear on the electronic screen, I wandered round to a waiting bus to find that it was Lyon bus and was being loaded.

The driver loaded my bike on the back. It seemed reasonably well braced, so I was happy. I then settled back in my front row seat to forget about it and enjoy the rest.

All was good, as we passed the queues of traffic coming into Paris until we were flagged over into the Services by an unmarked police car. I thought that it may have been for speeding, until I saw ‘Douane’ on the officials jacket approaching the bus. It was a customs check. As one if the 13 passengers I was ordered off the coach and asked to line up with the others. Surprised that I didn’t have a suitcase, I just pointed at ‘le velo’ on the back and then had a few questions box-ticking questions on where I had come from and what I was doing. Being such an unlikely drugs smuggler or illegal immigrant, he quickly moved on to the next and I was allowed back on the bus. Thankfully there were only 13 passengers on the coach otherwise it would have been a long delay. And I think that 13 people re-boarded.

The rest of the journey was uneventful and allowed me to catch up on my blog and even doze a bit. We arrived in Lyon @12.30pm. When booking it had seemed too good to be true, but thankfully wasn’t as it got me and my bike safely down to Lyon in 5.5 hours. Highly recommended.

After a lap around the park to see the best and worst of Lyon, I set Google up to get me out of the city. Being lunchtime, the traffic was ok, but Google had developed a habit of repeating instructions. This was confusing in condensed city streets, and then annoying on longer sections, “turn left in 600m, turn left in 600m etc.” rather like having a backseat driver nagging me (I would imagine).

I had decided on the direct route to Moirans, despite the hills. I have a problem with longer looping routes, possibly from being an Engineer and liking things in straight lines.

Everyone loves a field of sunflowers. While I saw many this was the only one in full bloom.  I suppose that they’re like potatoes and there must be a range of first earlies, second earlies, main crop and late crop etc to satisfy the demands of the flower industry.

While cycling through quiet backlanes was enjoyable and some of the sharp hills were challenging. It was also getting hot, into the high 20s and water was in short supply as there were very few bars or shops open in the villages, rather like the UK with its pubs of course. However, Tramole had a library where they very kindly allowed me to use the toilet to fill my water bottle (not literally of course).

As I got closer to Moirans the mountains came into view. Passing through Le Grand Lemps, there was evidence that Le Tour had recently been through as the day finshed in Voiron.

Arriving at my Premier Classe hotel on an industrial estate was confusing. Firstly the check in was at another adjacent hotel, with a small restaurant (serving food til 9 as I understood – no reservation needed). My room was in a US Motel style block. It was basic, but allowed me to keep my bike in there after carrying it up 2 flights of stairs. After showering etc, I returned to the restaurant at 8pm, but told it was now full. After lots of other frustrating deadends, I ended up cycling 2 miles back into Moirans where the only options were a kebab or a takeaway pizza, so it was 2 pizzas in 2 days.

Interestingly, my hotel and the adjacent one were also full of TdF personnel. I met a guy who was responsible for putting up the 0km gantry each day. Given the popularity and the fact that I’d only booked a month ago I was surprised that I had only paid £41, or perhaps that was the ‘expensive’, late, demand-driven price for my room….

So another good day with a 60 mile afternoon ride and 900m of climb to get me down to see the TdF tomorrow. All good !