I guess this is a love letter to the cycling trips that go slightly awry. Partly because they become something of an experiment in type two fun (enjoyable after the fact, if not in the moment), but also because they throw up surprises which feel all the more delicious for the backdrop of grey skies, soggy shoes and sleep deprivation.

The day I was cycling mostly on sand, I was rewarded by sunshine, views and the serendipitous appearance of a cycle superhighway through endless pine forest which delivered me almost exactly where I needed to be.

When we cycled to Saint Emilion, home to the first vineyard to become a UNESCO world heritage site, one friend had her first experience of bonking before being blown away by the perfectly preserved, postcard-picturesque medieval village with its cobbled streets and a church carved from a limestone cliff, surrounded by endless vineyards and stately homes.

Another highlight was Musette bike cafe in Bordeaux, an independent shop stocking well-loved smaller brands where some of our group rented gravel bikes. The coffee and chat from the two cofounders – Rob from the US and Chris from Cornwall – are both excellent, and they pride themselves on organising community ride-outs. They also kindly stored a bike box for me.