

SAMAYA X RACE ACROSS FRANCE
SAMAYA AT THE START OF THE 500-KILOMETRE RACE

Samaya was present at the Race Across France, at the start of the 500 km race in Saint-Jean-en-Royans on June 29 and 30, 2023, to offer a living base for racers. Product Development Assistant Tanguy Donnars tells us how bivouacs are gradually becoming an integral part of bike packing.
What does Samaya 's presence mean at an event like the Race Across France?
Tanguy Donnars: Samaya is steeped in the world of itinerancy. Today, we're touching on one aspect of it with our 4-season tents and a very advanced use by mountaineers. We're realizing that there are other aspects of itinerancy to be explored, notably bike packing, through which many enthusiasts are getting into itinerancy. The Race Across France is an emblematic bike-packing event in France, bringing together many people.
What have you brought to the RAF cyclists?
TD : Checkpoints are set up all along the RAF, called "bases de vie", so that runners can eat and rest. We set up a base camp at the start of the 500 km race, in Saint-Jean-en-Royans, with Samaya INSPIRE2, NANO BIVY and a tarp. Several riders were thus able to benefit from a comfortable and restful shelter to spend the night, despite the storm.
Bike packing is developing enormously. How does bivouac fit into this practice?
TD : It was interesting to talk to riders about their riding, to see how they appropriate bike packing and equipment, and how they can divert it. We saw riders with drybags Samaya on their bikes, for example. They preferred drybags to the panniers on the market, designed specifically for this purpose, because of their lightness. We were able to discuss the fact that the tent represents a real added value for touring cyclists. They give cyclists the freedom to stop where they like, when they like and for as long as they like, without having to worry about hotel or camping times. The advantage of Samaya in this respect lies in the lightness of the equipment, whether it's a tent, bivy or tarp. In a practice where speed and maximum optimization of the bike's equipment are one and the same, a few grams less make all the difference over long distances, to save time.