Cycling alone from Paris to Budapest with Mathilde Sipos
In this episode of the Sportive Outdoor podcast, I welcomed Mathilde Sipos, better known under the pseudonym En route Mathilde, to share with us the story of her solo cycling trip from Paris to Budapest.
Watch the video interview
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Episode summary
Mathilde Sipos, better known on Instagram under the pseudonym “En Route Mathilde”, met by chance at the top of the Furka Pass in Switzerland , and spoke to me about her extraordinary adventure: cycling from Paris to Budapest alone. The 2,000 km trek was an unprecedented physical challenge, but above all a quest to overcome psychological obstacles and return to her family’s roots.
A tribute to roots and freedom of movement
The choice of Budapest as a destination was no accident, but a tribute to her grandfather of Hungarian descent. Mathilde wanted to retrace her family history in reverse: when he was just 4 years old, her grandfather found himself stranded in Hungary for seven years at the start of the Second World War, the borders having become impassable. ” My idea (…) was to show how lucky we are, in Europe today, to be able to cross so many borders so easily, simply on my little bike “.
Lightning-fast, minimalist preparation
Mathilde put this project together in a very short space of time, receiving her bike and equipment just five days before her departure from the Eiffel Tower. Equipped by her sponsors, she opted for a bikepacking setup on a gravel-type bike, for a total weight of around 23 to 24 kg including tent and stove.
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From technical challenges to physical pain
The trip was marked by several critical phases. In Switzerland, Mathilde realized that her gear ratio (the front chainring of the bike) was not adapted to the alpine gradient. She benefited from the help of the cycling community when a bike store dismantled a part on a new model to install it on hers.
However, the physical difficulty caught up with her in the form of windscreen wiper syndrome in her knees, forcing her to take an enforced one-day break. This period of intense doubt, when she feared she would not be able to continue, was overcome by rest and an adaptation of her itinerary.
Crossing Austria and arriving in Budapest
The passage through Austria marked a major mental switch. Faced with 800 kilometers of flat ground still to cover, Mathilde rediscovered the certainty of reaching her goal, linking stages of 100 km a day. Despite the sometimes heavy loneliness and accumulated fatigue, she arrived in Budapest welcomed by a French bar, “Le Troquet”, and a dozen subscribers who happened to be there.
Lessons from an introspective adventure
Beyond the feat itself, Mathilde’ s adventure taught her a lesson about self-acceptance and managing chronic dissatisfaction. She confides that she realized it was difficult to be fully proud of oneself after 2,000 km, with one’s mind already searching for the next project. Her final piece of advice for those hesitating to take the plunge is not to wait until you’re “100% serene” or perfectly prepared, but to break down your project into stages that are accessible today.
Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enroute_mathilde/