Bike Anarchy

[Steele]

Tim sent me this way to add some info about our recent France trip. We spend the majority of the trip in the countryside around Bordeaux, starting in the Dordogne region and moving into the vineyards of Bordeaux. The riding is mostly rolling hills with a few more challening climbs. This is the 5th or 6th trip we have done in Europe. In most countries the roads are small and so numerous that almost all the riding is done off main arterioles. When you add in the great food, wine, history and scenery it is hard to beat for a bike vacation. Milage is often 30-60 a day with longer and shorter options.

We use Backroads, a mid to high end company. There are certainly less expensive options, but we have never had a bad experience with them. They not only plan routes and include meals and hotels, they also are great at providing cultural and other experiences on their trips. Their bikes are high end titanium with shimano electronic shifting, top of the line carbon bikes and electric assist options are available for an upcharge. When they first introduced electric assist most of us were skeptical, but it has allowed our friends who have health issues or are not as into biking to keep up. Over the years we have become a group of 18 or so who travel together, usually 3-5 choosing the powered option. Backroads recently starting using GPS units instead of printed instructions and it is a game changer. Riding in Europe involves many turns, roads that change names for no predictable reason etc. Not having to stop and flip thorugh paper route instructions is great.

We have used the same company for trips in the US, Asia and Peru, so if any of you are intrerested in details let me know. I have no personal association with them, just a happy customer.

[BeauV]

Send along, or post here, I'm interested in the name. Now that my lovely Admiral has discovered the joy of electric assist, she's game for a bike trip. French wine country sounds perfect.

[Tim Ford]

Oh god, that sounds heavenly, thanks for the more detailed info!

The electric-assist component is interesting. A good friend of my wife did a trip last year in Deutschland, with elec-assist, and had a blast, even with some of the issues a couple of geezers had with the bikes (not the bike's fault).

My German is almost nil these days, but I can at least survive with French. Will definitely look into this (whilst working on a recipe for gluten-free baguettes )

[kdh]

Oh god, that sounds heavenly, thanks for the more detailed info!

The electric-assist component is interesting. A good friend of my wife did a trip last year in Deutschland, with elec-assist, and had a blast, even with some of the issues a couple of geezers had with the bikes (not the bike's fault).

My German is almost nil these days, but I can at least survive with French. Will definitely look into this (whilst working on a recipe for gluten-free baguettes )

"Against the Grain" brand gluten-free baguettes are really good. My daughter's celiac. Tapioca starch, eggs, mozzarella cheese are likely key ingredients.

[Steele]

Send along, or post here, I'm interested in the name. Now that my lovely Admiral has discovered the joy of electric assist, she's game for a bike trip. French wine country sounds perfect.

This is the trip we just completed, https://www.backroads.com/trips/BDXI/do ... iking-tour. If you like the inclusion of wine country then Backroads France/Provence and Italy/Tuscany trips are options as well. Check the website for details. We took those trips long enough ago the itineraries have probably changed.

[Tim Ford]

Oh god, that sounds heavenly, thanks for the more detailed info!

The electric-assist component is interesting. A good friend of my wife did a trip last year in Deutschland, with elec-assist, and had a blast, even with some of the issues a couple of geezers had with the bikes (not the bike's fault).

My German is almost nil these days, but I can at least survive with French. Will definitely look into this (whilst working on a recipe for gluten-free baguettes )

"Against the Grain" brand gluten-free baguettes are really good. My daughter's celiac. Tapioca starch, eggs, mozzarella cheese are likely key ingredients.

Yup yup. Got two in the fridge and a bunch in the freezer, they've become the go-to stock for breadlike products. Trouble is, there are none in France, that is, none that we could find. Strange. Even NoGlu did not have a G-free baguette! (they did have G-free croissants though!)

So big vacuum in the market and the wife and I figure to become capitalist entrepreneurial types. DONT STEAL OUR IDEA goddammit!

[Benno von Humpback]

On yesterday's ride, I bee flew into my mouth. I spat it out and it stung my arm.

Today, I got a warning from the county police for running a red. The stupid induction coil at that intersection can't see me and the thing doesn't go on timer until 0800. I had to agree that, in a purely legal sense, I should have pressed the "walk" button on that empty street. I also should have looked behind me before crossing.

[kimbottles]

On yesterday's ride, I bee flew into my mouth. I spat it out and it stung my arm.

Today, I got a warning from the county police for running a red. The stupid induction coil at that intersection can't see me and the thing doesn't go on timer until 0800. I had to agree that, in a purely legal sense, I should have pressed the "walk" button on that empty street. I also should have looked behind me before crossing.

I have a friendly relationship with Carla a policewoman here on Bainbridge Island. We served on a cycling nonprofit board together. She has stated that she has a goal to catch me running a stop sign so she can ticket me. So far she has failed in her goal. I always look around before I blow stop signs, primarily to make sure it is safe, but also to watch out for Carla.

[JoeP]

After having hit a kid on a bike who blew a stop sign on our way home from my dad's birthday dinner when I was just earning my driver's license I have no sympathy for those who run stop signs on bikes (or any vehicle). Luckily I had almost stopped when we hit and he was just bruised and left corduroy marks on the car paint but it scared the living shit out of all of us, especially me. You'll get no mercy here.

[kimbottles]

After having hit a kid on a bike who blew a stop sign on our way home from my dad's birthday dinner when I was just earning my driver's license I have no sympathy for those who run stop signs on bikes (or any vehicle). Luckily I had almost stopped when we hit and he was just bruised and left corduroy marks on the car paint but it scared the living shit out of all of us, especially me. You'll get no mercy here.

No worries, I NEVER do it if there are any cars in sight or if there are no long distance sight lines. I am actually a very defensive rider. I assume I will lose any contact with a car, so I avoid them at all costs. And I ride where there is almost no traffic.

Cheers