for two and a half months, these four young retirees cycled 3,300 km to Budapest

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Lovers of bike for around ten years, Elisabeth and Christian Chermat, young retirees based in Hénanbihen, in the east of Côtes-d’Armor, took up the challenge of cycle from Rennes to Budapestcapital of Hungary. Seduced by the idea, their friends, Jeanne Nicolas and Stéphane Aurousseau, from Notre-Dame-du-Guildo, joined the journey who led them to cross six countries, over approximately 3,300 kmfrom April 14 to July 3, 2024.

“The pleasure of always going further”

“We are a small group of around ten people who have been cycling for ten years. Every summer we go away for eight days. » With already to their credit, the Loire by bike over two years, the canal from Nantes to Brest, Holland, the tour of Gironde, Vendée and Mayenne, Elisabeth et Christian Chermat were left hungry.

“It’s a real feeling of freedomno constraints, a slower pace, the pleasure of always going further and of discovery,” smiles Elisabeth who did not intend to stop there once she retired.

After some research, the couple opted for Budapest. Jeanne and Stéphane will be on the trip which even began at six. “Our daughter-in-law’s parents accompanied us for three weeks then continued to the Loire. »

Cards in hand, Elisabeth retraces the path traveledfrom Rennes, following part of the Loire by bikethe south of the tour of Burgundy, the Saône, before join Switzerlandthen Germany, Austria, Slovakia, with the final destination, the Hungarian capital, where the friends spent eight days, before returning to Paris, by bus, and Côtes-d'Armor, by train .

We took the Euro Vélo 6* which leads to Romania but according to the information I had, Hungary is not easy by bike, it is less well signposted. By opting for Budapest, we were sure of having a Flixbus to take us back to Paris, with our bikes.

Elisabeth relied on two very useful applications for this journey, Polarsteps and Komoot, route planners which also allows you to give news to loved ones.

“I also wrote down in a notebook the main towns, the address and sometimes the prices of the campsites where we spent all our nights, with the exception of one. »

Elisabeth had set daily stages of 50 km. Because although not sedentary, the four friends assure that they are not great athletes.

Discovery and meetings

And then, this adventure with friends should also leave room for discovery and meetings. On this side, the four cyclists did not lack one nor the other. Even less unforeseen events. “These are excellent memories, sporting but also in terms of nature. We saw magnificent things, especially in Bavaria. I didn’t think I would see so many animals,” says Stéphane.

We took the time. If we discovered a nice place, we stopped.

In mid-April, the temperatures were not very lenient, with nights at 2° and lots of rain. Physically, the first days were a little difficult. But the Bretons, never discouragedhave adapted. As Jeanne points out, constraints and bad weather are part of the adventure.

In Passau, Bavaria, the group diverted its trajectory to avoid flooding. “We mainly followed the waterways, it was relatively flat,” says Elisabeth. But constrained by rising watersthe group began a ascension of the mountain, loaded with approximately 17 kg of luggage each. And Stéphane adds, “25 km of deviation, with elevation changes, we were full of guibolles! »

“A real disconnection”

However, the four are unanimous, they are returned in better shape of their escapade. “We forget everything, the house, the garden, it’s a real disconnect,” continue Stéphane and Christian.

THE cyclists who, although they have not had to report any mechanical problems or punctures, have noted a much more developed network of cycle paths and adapted transport in Germany or Austria than in France. “But France wants to evolve in this area, to create new axes,” notes Christian.

There is still work to be done, as Stéphane noticed, “when we returned, after 22 hours on the bus, we had to cross Paris by bike. Reaching Brittany by train, with bicycles, it's not easy! »

Collected by Cindy GIRAUD local correspondent

* EuroVélo 6 is divided into two sections, the Loire by bike and EuroVélo 6, from Nevers to Basel.

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