COLLECTIONS

10/03

ROTM Mimosas

Touching Spring with the Mimosas Every Spring brings an enchantment here in Provence, when the famous yellow Mimosa trees bloom on the Tanneron and in the Esterel. Located just a few kilometres from Cannes, the massif overlooking the Mediterranean is ablaze with gold, exhaling a sweet scent of honey and vanilla. The paths on which our machines carry us are transformed into tunnels of flowers, a natural guard-of-honour standing proudly against the blue of the sky; this wonderful display is a remedy for the senses waking up from hibernation. Native to Australia and Tasmania, the mimosa scabrella blooms in early spring in temperate climates, such as the Côte d’Azur. Brought here in 1789 by the French botanists Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle and Aimé Bonpland during a trip to South America, the mimosa [for the brunch-time cocktail, see also ‘Buck’s Fizz’] has almost 600 species. The genus has established itself here in southern France as a favourite decoration in gardens and parks, cultivated by local horticulturists making use of the pleasant temperatures and chalky soil. Its flowers are delicate and sensitive to light and touch. The Route des Mimosas, a 120km journey dedicated to the plant, welcomes thousands of sightseers every year. We load our bikes on the regional express train from Nice, heading to Mandelieu for a loop of about 40km. The forecast says sunshine and a gentle 15°C, a promising morning ahead. Leaving Mandelieu station, the bikes rise up the steep slope of a dirt track, set back from the dwellings that ‘flowered’ here in the mid to late 20th century. Everyone has a clear view of the sea as we ride southwards and, judging by the vehicles parked outside these modern houses, this is a resort reserved for a privileged clientele. The Grand Duc elevates us to more than 500 metres in altitude, gradually revealing the scintillating blue from Nice to Fréjus. Our chunky tyres have left the populated areas and posh cars to find small farms belonging to local people, families who have lived up here for generations. In this natural setting, life has not yet yielded to the siren song of holiday properties, their fields of mimosas, olive trees and chestnut trees remain a much more precious commodity than euros or air-conditioning. Fabulous trails and small winding roads that make us extremely happy take us to the small road of Bagueiret, in the direction of Les Adrets de l'Esterel. At the bottom of the valley, the path would be more suitable for mountain bikes rather than our gravel bikes, which now resemble frail dinghies upon a rough sea. They resist the terrain entirely, so we dismount instead of flying over the handlebars. But then we find wide tracks once more, dirt boulevards that are entirely dedicated to us, at high speed, faces in the wind, we wish this would never end… By crossing Route Nationale 7, we leave the Tanneron massif to enter the Estérel. Its characteristic red rock has propelled us into an Arizona canyon; this place would be a perfect setting for John Wayne, regardless of his choice of horse. Here we find ourselves in the promised land of gravel and mountain biking on the Côte d'Azur, the feeling is magical. Here the mimosas have given way to lentisks and arbutus trees, whose glowing fruits are just waiting to be plucked. 40 clicks later and more than 1200m of ascent, we are approaching the coast. Our precious mimosas have reappeared. The name derives from the Latin mimus which means ‘mime’ – as the flowers fold up when touched, which mimics animals and their sensitivity. You cannot help but be drawn towards these enchanting plants, an invitation to enjoy the intoxication of the Côte d’Azur in all its early springtime glory. Further Riding Ride of the Month: March May is the season of the markets in Provence, where a cornucopia of open air stalls appear each week in most towns and villages. VIEW MORE Ride of the Month: May In the world of cycle racing, Milan–San Remo is one of the most prestigious events of the season. To win this trophy is to have your name chiseled into history. But only if you’re a man. VIEW MORE Ride of The Month: July The Col de Vence is an unforgiving climb, renowned for it's desert-like landscape, beautiful views of the Mediterrean Sea and the absence of an escape from the blazing sun. VIEW MORE Ride of the Month: September A 1300m climb to explore the wild animal reserve of the Monts d’Azur and ride the thrilling descent down the other side, through tunnels cut in the rock. VIEW MORE

COLLECTIONS

11/10

66 North x Café du Cycliste

Café du Cycliste x 66°North "As cyclists, we have fallen in love with Iceland, where you can find a polar kind of beauty, totally different to the Côte d’Azur. The cycling scene there is as welcoming as it is well-established, they tackle the harsh weather conditions with smiling faces. These athletes test our products to their very limits and contribute to their development. It’s there that we met the team behind 66North, whose authenticity and expertise create an ideal platform to launch a new winter kit." This is how Rémi Clermont, founder of Café du Cycliste defines this new technical collaboration for the brand and the importance of maintaining the strong relationship we’ve had for years with the elite of Icelandic cycling. There are some places that make an impression on you, that cause a gut reaction which stays with you forever– Iceland is one of those places. The testing of the clothing that we developed was carried out in Landmannalaugar, on the slopes of volcanoes in the nature reserve of Fjallabak. Over two days of intensive riding, Ágústa Edda Björnsdóttir and Eyjólfur Guðgeirsson put the clothes we had co-developed through their paces. There, far from everything, with its natural hot springs and fields of lava as far as the eye can see, the expanse of land is spectacular, but harsh. The cold and damp can catch you out at any moment, as the Icelandic cyclists know well. 66North knows this too. For nearly 90 years, the Icelandic brand has developed a simple philosophy: the weather should not be an obstacle to getting out there in the open. 66North was founded in 1926 in the west of Iceland where the weather conditions are known for being very tough, and where the clothes worn are simply a question of survival for its fisherman. Café du Cycliste and 66North saw an opportunity to share their respective know-how and offer cyclists the best in terms of comfort and performance. Both brands share a common idea: design is the key to tackling any type of challenge. Neither brand, however, had risen to the challenge of getting men and women out on their bikes in the North Sea winter. This sparked off an idea : creating a kit designed for Iceland would allow cyclists to tackle the winter weather anywhere in the world. The collection Landmannalaugar Men's Fleece Jersey, Mountain Shop Now Seigla Men's Insulated Jacket, Dark Grey Shop Now Landmannalaugar Women's Fleece Jersey, Mountain Shop Now Hip Pack Unisex Bag, Mountain Shop Now Skyli Men's Anorak, Light Blue Shop Now

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