Cycle Surf Count Down: How to fix a puncture!

The Big Friday cycle surf is fast approaching and although the Big Friday crew will be on hand for puncture repairs, we are girl guides at heart and like to 'be prepared'!   So when we saw this great little vid by the girls at Adventurely on how to fix a bike puncture we had to share it ..   thanks Adventurely, no excuses for us not to keep on riding now ..

"One day we were dreaming of the things that made us happiest in life ... "

5 years ago our friend Anna Glowinski, bicycle whizz, fashion designer and Cycle Show presenter on the tellybox, asked if we wanted to go 'cycle surfing' in France. She had seen someone in the US selling cycle mules for surfboards and wanted to give them a go .. 'hello yes' we said and off we all went on our first ever cycle surf trip ..

Fast forward a year and we were ready to go with our first ever Big Friday Cycle Surfari, now amazingly in its 5th year!  The Cycle Surfari is our annual cycle from Hossegor to Lacanau, up the South West coast of France. Think shady cycle paths through the pine forests & French villages, glassy waves surfed at dawn, hearty meals cooked on the camp stove, sleeping under canvas and stars, mile after mile of golden sand, sunburnt noses, sandy feet and salty hair, off the grid, good company and good times!

"One day we were dreaming of the things that make us happiest in life, the great outdoors, cycling, surfing, camping, friends. Big Friday took on the challenge of a totally new-concept holiday in which participants cycle up the West Coast of France using surf trailers to carry their boards. The joy of this is that every day there was a new beach to discover, including some beaches that aren’t accessible by car. It meant that every day was spent soaking up the sun and the fresh air and Big Friday’s impeccable customer service provided a meal at the camp site, ready cooked with tents up by the time you arrive! It’s a glorious, glorious, unique holiday event." Anna Glowinski, Best Day Ever Creative

Anna in camp on our first ever Big Friday Cycle Surfari in 2010

Anna G led her own successful women's cycle brand for the past 5 years but recently left to launch her own creative agency .. although we deeply loved her stylish cycle tights, we can't help but be a little bit pleased she is going to be dreaming up big ideas for a living!  Good luck with your new venture Anna!

Stylish Cycle Wear for Sistas!

Anna G guiding our cycle surfari in 2010

We're kind of excited about our cycle surfari in September with the Big Friday crew, the first trip is now full but we still have spaces on the second week if you are tempted to join us!  

What to pack though? Capsule surf wardrobe no problem, throw cycling in to the mix and we're all a bit confused.com    Fortunately for us we have Anna Glowinski on our speed dial ..  Anna G is not only the big sista of the cycle surfari, it was her crazy idea to start with; she also designs her own collection of womens cycle wear called Ana Nichoola, the perfect place for us to find some stylish cycle wear for our trip!

Here's our pick of the 2013 collection:

The Hello Yello Jacket - we love the name and we love to be super visible when we are cycling so this is the perfect jacket to keep us safe and also importantly .. dry! Even in sunny France we need to be prepared for showers! 

We love this Cycle Sailor vest top, its moisture wicking fabric should mean we still feel fresh when we stop for a game of boule in the village & it will look cute with one of our bright Oakley sports bras underneath.  Cute price too £19

The Velo Jacket .. Our absolute fave from the Ana Nichoola shop and almost a necessity as we will be cycling in the land of the velo and we don't want any confusion about what we are doing ..  say it loud and proud!

You had us at the words 'padded bottom' .. we need these summery sun cat cycle shorts, our hands need some 'naked hand' gloves and we probably don't need the star leggings but they make us happy so we'll wear those too! 

Surfgirl Magazine: Travels with my Bike

Arriving in South West France after a three month stint in London's urban jungle I am excited but nervous about our plan to cycle from Hossegor to Lacanau in search of uncrowded surf and life off the grid.  I love camping and being outdoors but I am definitely no exercise junkie and I am seriously wondering if Facebook can survive without me?

the simple life

Oakley team frother Gwen

The thought of sunshine, endless golden beaches, pumping surf (by pumping I mean 2-3 feet and mellow obviously), boardwalks, sand dunes, moules frites, croissants, and shady pine forests, spurs me in and we enjoy all of this and more! Team morale is aided by the presence of Oakley pro rider Gwen Spurlock, who has come along for the ride and takes the word 'frothing' to a new level. 

the hook option

"Note to self: Adopt Gwen as personal surf coach and little sister"



We cycle almost the whole journey by cycle path, just a few short road sections and a ferry journey to cut out a huge pedal around the arcachon basin.  The paths come in gradients of flat, flatter and gentle incline.. sometimes I long for a hill just to get some freewheeling in. But on the whole with a surfboard to deal with as well, the flatness works out perfectly.  Between us we are using a mix of side hooks to carry short boards and mules which drag mini mals and longboards behind us.  I've got a mule and once I get used to it and some of the things to avoid, like big kerbs and sharp turns, it works a treat. Every now and then I even forget its there - which is a definite no-no!

Jess with the mule option 

Our journey takes us through Hossegor and Seignosse, via Vieux Boucou, Contis Plage, Mimizan and Biscarosse Plage. Sometimes the paths take us inland around sections of military land and through tiny sleepy French villages where we can reward ourselves in the patisserie and have a quick snooze on church steps, patch up a few punctures and then hit the road again. Getting a little bit lost en route is all part of the fun, one day we find ourselves relaxing on day beds by a lake in an Ibizan style bar by a lake, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

the reward

Early morning glassy surfs and 'reward surfs' after a sweaty afternoon of cycling feel thoroughly well deserved and looking at the map and knowing that you covered every inch of the journey under your own steam is beyond satisfying!

local foods

The team from Big Friday who have organised the trip in association with Oakley Europe, pitch our camp each day in a new destination, each one seemingly more picturesque and escapist than the last. By the end of the week the enormous Pyla sand dune is reflecting the setting sun onto our evening feast while para-gliders swoop overhead, it is truly spectacular.

125 miles of peddling, paddling and sleeping under the stars later, we are all surfed out, saddle sore and 100% stoked, no-one has updated their Facebook status for 7 days and we can't be located by GPS. We are well and truly off the grid: mission accomplished!

Originally Published in Surfgirl Magazine September 2012 Issue 39

The next Cycle Surf is 1-8 September 2012 - find out more here or email info@bigfriday.com

live simply

image from http://thetweedlife.tumblr.com/post/13863627001/yep - we love this image but couldn't find the original source, if you know please comment so we can credit properly! 

This glorious sunshine is getting us excited about the summer and the great outdoors and nothing says 'summer escape' to us like our Cycle Surfari in France.  The annual Big Friday cycle surf is a cycling, surfing and camping trip from Hossegor to Lacanau.  We peddle through shady pine forests, and sleepy French villages to countless surf breaks en route.  Each day as we hit the cycle paths with our boards to seek out our next surf spot, our trusty van and crew take all the luggage to our next camp site by the beach, pitch our tents and cook up a storm! 

Its like Swallows and Amazons on bicycles with waves, baguettes and red wine...   what could be better than that!

Dates:   1-8 September 2012

Price:    £549  per person  *£499 early booking price* 

Full info: www.bigfriday.com/friday/info/cycle_surfari_france.php

Photo gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/bigfriday/sets/72157624808846487/

The Cycle Surfari trip includes:  

- Airport transfers (arrive Biarritz, depart from Bordeaux)
- 7 nights camping accommodation (single or twin tents - please specifiy when you book)
- All meals catered except one evening meal (wine is provided with evening meal)
- One weeks cycle rental with lock and helmet
- One weeks rental of surfboard mule (carries board behind bike) or hook (carries board to the side)
- Daily cycle guiding and bicycle maintenance
- Support van transporting all luggage.
- Amazing summer 2012 Oakley goody bag! (clothing and sunglasses for each person).