The hub curse has struck again.
I was only a few kilometres away from Saint-Quentin, where I was supposed to spend a few days staying with some of my followers. It was an important milestone for me because, for the first time since I started this journey, I was going to be welcomed into the home of people who follow me on social media.
Before arriving, I had encountered several electrical problems. After spending some time trying to figure them out, I had finally managed to solve them.
I thought I could finally get back on the road without any more trouble.
I started riding again and, barely five metres later, my third sprocket bent.
A few moments earlier, I had climbed a fairly steep hill. Because of my electrical problems, I had no assistance and had to put in an enormous amount of effort to keep the bike moving. The sprocket had probably been weakened during that climb. When I started riding again, it completely gave way.
Once again, the bike was completely immobilised.
I felt a little lost. I was near a forest and was beginning to consider spending the night there. But the situation was becoming complicated, and I knew I wouldn't be able to properly repair the bike where I was.
So I contacted the people I was supposed to be staying with. They immediately offered to come and help me, although they were cautious: they didn't yet know exactly what they could do, but they knew I had a spare new sprocket.
Unfortunately, that sprocket wasn't the right size, but perhaps they could at least help me cut it with an angle grinder and try to adapt it.
Even so, I knew that even if we managed to install the new sprocket, there was a good chance it wouldn't last very long. Every time something broke, the threads on the hub became more damaged. The less securely the screws could hold, the more likely the sprocket was to move and become deformed again.
Then they told me they knew a recovery driver who might be able to come and pick up the bike.
In my mind, the goal was simply to be transported to the campsite in Saint-Quentin. At least I would be somewhere safe and could look for a solution in better conditions.
But they offered me something even better: to come directly to their home.
They called Pélo, a recovery driver who agreed to transport my bike free of charge. A huge thank you to him for offering his services and allowing me to reach my hosts despite the breakdown.
I thought I was simply going to find somewhere safe to stay while I repaired the bike. Instead, I ended up spending four extraordinary days with a wonderful family.
I met Margaux, Kenny and their children, Léonie and Marceau.
Throughout my stay, they did everything they could to help me find a solution. Since the bike was completely immobilised, Margaux drove me to the different companies that might be able to repair or reinforce my sprocket.
First, we went to A3S Mécanique in Gauchy. Anna and Christelle agreed to work on the part and reinforce it by adding extra material. Once again, they decided to do the work free of charge.
We then went to Soissons Réfection, a company specialising in rebuilding automotive gearboxes, run by Jean-Baptiste and his father.
The threads on my hub had become too damaged to properly secure the sprocket using the original mounting system. Jean-Baptiste therefore drilled new holes so that inserts could be fitted. He then installed much stronger bolts than the ones I had previously been using.
Because the bolts protruded slightly and interfered with the operation of the hub, they were even ground down so that everything could rotate properly.
This repair is completely different from the temporary solutions I had been relying on until now. The system seems much stronger and gives me far more confidence.
At the time of writing this article, I have ridden around 80 kilometres since the repair without noticing the slightest sign of weakness.
I even managed a fairly long climb at more than 5%. It was just under a kilometre long and, despite the amount of strain it put on the bike, I didn't notice any particular weakness.
For the first time in several weeks, I'm finally starting to regain some confidence in this setup.
I would sincerely like to thank the two companies that agreed to help me: Anna and Christelle at A3S Mécanique, as well as Jean-Baptiste at Soissons Réfection.
They took the time to listen to my problem, understand how this very unusual component worked, and find a suitable solution.
But this stop in Saint-Quentin was about much more than a mechanical repair.
For four days, I got to know a truly incredible family. People who were deeply generous, kind and willing to give their time and energy to someone they had never met before except through a screen.
Margaux drove me everywhere while my bike was immobilised. Without her, it would have been practically impossible for me to visit the different companies and transport the parts.
Thanks to this family, I felt safe. I was able to breathe, think and look for solutions without also having to worry about where I was going to sleep or how I was going to move my bike.
I also shared some wonderful moments with the children. They are adorable, and little Léonie even gave me some drawings.
It may seem like a small gesture, but it meant a great deal to me.
This little break also made me think about my nephews.
I always feel a little sad when I think about them because I miss them terribly. Leaving for such a long time means being away from the people you love and missing part of their everyday lives.
But I always try to remember why I'm doing all of this.
The new Mickaël will hopefully be able to live longer and share many more moments with them in the future.
I'm fighting to transform my life, regain my health and be there for the people I love for many more years to come.
So even when being away from them hurts, I know I'm not fighting for nothing.
This stop gave me the chance to be safe, to feel good again and to get back on the road with greater peace of mind.
Most importantly, it allowed me to discover the generosity of northern France.
And believe me, it's not a legend.