What would you spend £100 on?

A good water resistant jacket

A good water resistant jacket will work as a windproof, or it should, so might as well get the one garment that is capable of both. I use a Showers Pass Skyline, luckily bought new from a retailer for 70% off and it’s my go to autumn/spring outer layer when it’s chilly and/or drizzle.

Having a good look at the weather forcast for the week, it should give you a fairly accurate indicator, when I took a party to do Raid Alpine early last August we had to contend with overcast/rain on first day through to snow on the Iseran and within two days 34C as we got to the climb before La Couillole but I/we already knew the extreme ranges of weather that was going to crop up.

It’d be prudent of the organisers to inform participants as well as those taking part to get an idea as to what weather they may come across and prepare for the worst but if you are having to carry all your own kit then investing in something to carry that kit is a must.

I’ve riden a fair few tunnels in the Alps and at high speed when there were a couple of crappy sodiums, unless you’re going to take a proper light and are able to engage the full beam before you get into the tunnel AND be able to adjust your eyes then it isn’t worth it. I’ve never gone through a forest and thought oh I need a front light, back light maybe if it’s a really filthy day but for a general daytime light, it doesn’t make any difference whatsoever.

Tools could be your friend then…

Saddle bag, decent multi-tool with chain tool on, spare chain links, decent pump, insulated bottles, high 5 race pack for fuel etc.

Shorts, are your shorts tried

Shorts, are your shorts tried and tested over long distances? How many pairs do you have, are you able to wash and get dried shorts every other day. Maybe invest in some bum cream, sun cream also with a high factor as France can get baking hot and you’ll be out all day. You’re better off with a cotton cap to keep the sun off your head.

A ‘water resistant’ jacket , depends what the shop have but you would be really unlucky in June to get bad weather IME so something that could be rolled up to a reasonably small size as a back up. Are you using a pannier, seat or frame bag to carry stuff? 

You could get some overshoes but might be overkill, however if you’re riding with no mudguards you can buy a new pair of full sized neoprene jobs on ebay for about £8, I wouldn’t bother with toe covers, if it’s wet enough to warrant them then you’d be better off with a full sized neoprene overshoe.

Cheap gloves can be a nightmare, it’s the one thing I wouldn’t scrimp on, also a pair of decent shoes, maybe think about a pair of spare glasses.

Forget the daytime light advice it’s absolute pony, it simply will not do anything to enhance safety. Whilst not perfect the French aren’t complete bastards when it comes to getting around people on bikes.

Waterproof clothing. The

Waterproof clothing. The important point is to always carry waterproof clothing as a kind of weather insurance, although it only really works in reverse – when you don’t have them, it’s more effective than a rain-dance.