Traveling to Hungary and France
#1
aka Tom Reingold
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,469 Times
in
1,435 Posts
Traveling to Hungary and France
My Lovely Wife™ and I are traveling to Hungary and France. Should I look for anything bike-related there?
Our hosts in Hungary will have bikes to loan us. I'm picturing myself lost on a rural road, far from their home, not being able to communicate anything to strangers. And that is what you call an adventure!
I've been to France, and I speak skeletal French. Hungarian is impossible to learn, and I haven't even tried. I watched a video on how to count, and oh, forget it.
Our hosts in Hungary will have bikes to loan us. I'm picturing myself lost on a rural road, far from their home, not being able to communicate anything to strangers. And that is what you call an adventure!
I've been to France, and I speak skeletal French. Hungarian is impossible to learn, and I haven't even tried. I watched a video on how to count, and oh, forget it.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,158
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 6,698 Times
in
2,611 Posts
My impression is that these are fairly large countries (i.e., asking, "I'm going to the United States. Anything bike related I should do there?"). You might want to specify what cities/regions you'll be in.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
Hungary is on my short list. Enjoy the trip! Where will you be staying while there? I have a good friend who went to Central European University (the source of much current controversy in the free world) and my wife has spent some time in Budapest and loved it there. It's rather important to consider that right now Hungary is experiencing quite a bit of forceful and hostile political upheaval. Personally, as someone who's been a lonely tourist in some nearby Balkan states, getting lost in the countryside is not always going to guarantee sympathy or even comfort among the locals. I would recommend knowing exactly where you're going to and from before wandering and letting others know your plans.
-Gregory
-Gregory
#4
incazzare.
I suggest consuming food while there. Also consider drinking liquids!
__________________
1964 JRJ (Bob Jackson), 1973 Wes Mason, 1974 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1986 Schwinn High Sierra, 2000ish Colian (Colin Laing), 2011 Dick Chafe, 2013 Velo Orange Pass Hunter
1964 JRJ (Bob Jackson), 1973 Wes Mason, 1974 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1986 Schwinn High Sierra, 2000ish Colian (Colin Laing), 2011 Dick Chafe, 2013 Velo Orange Pass Hunter
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
Go to Cycles Alex Singer, it's right off the metro in Levallois, a northern suburb of Paris. A bit of a long ride, but a very cheap metro ticket will get you there for the same price as going one subway stop. Buy a water bottle and chat them up with your skeletal French! They're friendly.
#6
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Netherlands, near the sea
Posts: 488
Bikes: '83 Viner Special Professional, '91 Pinarello Asolo 'spumoni', '93 Trek 930, '94 Giant Cadex CFR3, '97 Giant Atlanta MTB, '99 B1 Weblite Cross , '16 Cube Peloton Race.
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 376 Times
in
97 Posts
Hungary is on my short list. Enjoy the trip! Where will you be staying while there? I have a good friend who went to Central European University (the source of much current controversy in the free world) and my wife has spent some time in Budapest and loved it there. It's rather important to consider that right now Hungary is experiencing quite a bit of forceful and hostile political upheaval. Personally, as someone who's been a lonely tourist in some nearby Balkan states, getting lost in the countryside is not always going to guarantee sympathy or even comfort among the locals. I would recommend knowing exactly where you're going to and from before wandering and letting others know your plans.
-Gregory
-Gregory
#7
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Netherlands, near the sea
Posts: 488
Bikes: '83 Viner Special Professional, '91 Pinarello Asolo 'spumoni', '93 Trek 930, '94 Giant Cadex CFR3, '97 Giant Atlanta MTB, '99 B1 Weblite Cross , '16 Cube Peloton Race.
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 376 Times
in
97 Posts
And yes, France is quite large! But it's great to bike there. Lots of B&Bs. And campsites. And farm-hotels/rooms.
#8
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,006
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 280 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2198 Post(s)
Liked 4,600 Times
in
1,764 Posts
Seriously.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
I'd heard the same thing about Croatia and Greece, but out in the countryside as I traveled alone in those places I had several encounters where villagers made me feel unwelcome and were not helpful when I was seeking directions or advice. I'm not thinking about danger, but simply the possibility of becoming lost or finding one's self in inhospitable circumstances.
-Gregory
-Gregory
#10
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
(Sorry, couldn't resist)
I've been to Hungary, but that was in 1977 and I suspect much has changed since then.
#11
Member
Be sure to eat some lángos in Hungary.
Regarding Balkan inhospitability, my personal experience has been exactly the opposite. Basically everyone I've met at random has been friendly and helpful.
Regarding Balkan inhospitability, my personal experience has been exactly the opposite. Basically everyone I've met at random has been friendly and helpful.
#12
Junior Member
Hey, Hungarian lad here. Make sure to lock your bikes _always_. Be very careful on roads, cycling culture is still in baby shoes here compared to more western regions of Europe. Drivers often pass close, and not all of them are jerks, most are simply unfamiliar with this stuff. Oh, and our roads and bike lanes generally suck, potholes everywhere etc.
People are generally friendly, but English is not this nation's strong suit by a long shot - smartphones, Google Translate can help a ton.
We have fine wines, pálinka (distilled fruit spirits), and ridiculously good craft beers if you're into that, but the latter can only be found in Budapest (mostly). As for cuisine, previously mentioned lángos is good stuff (greasy as hell, just like most stuff here), but don't pay more than 5-600 HUF for it, since it costs like 50 HUF to make...
People are generally friendly, but English is not this nation's strong suit by a long shot - smartphones, Google Translate can help a ton.
We have fine wines, pálinka (distilled fruit spirits), and ridiculously good craft beers if you're into that, but the latter can only be found in Budapest (mostly). As for cuisine, previously mentioned lángos is good stuff (greasy as hell, just like most stuff here), but don't pay more than 5-600 HUF for it, since it costs like 50 HUF to make...
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 2,841
Bikes: 2009 Handsome Devil, 1987 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT, 1989 Specialized Allez Former bikes; 1986 Miyata Trail Runner, 1979 Miyata 912, 2011 VO Rando, 1999 Cannondale R800, 1986 Schwinn Passage
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 796 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
367 Posts
My experience in Paris was the French were very friendly especially if I at least tried to begin things in my very rudimentary French. I think that they A) appreciated the effort and B) didn't want me to continue to butcher their beautiful language. All those rumors of rude, snooty Parisiennes were just that rumor, very nice and helpful and even if I didn't have much command of French I could always say Merci! I know at one point they had a very robust bike share program in Paris -Velib but they decided to change vendors in 2018 and I understand that caused issues not sure what the current state of their bike share program is. There are about 370 km of bike paths in the city so if you can find a bike that bodes well.
Baguettes, Croissants, Vin Rouge especially St Emilion region. I had the best lunch of my life in a little brasserie near Notre Dame. Have fun Tom -Bon Voyage.
Baguettes, Croissants, Vin Rouge especially St Emilion region. I had the best lunch of my life in a little brasserie near Notre Dame. Have fun Tom -Bon Voyage.
#14
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,398
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,697 Times
in
2,518 Posts
I have heard there are flea markets where you can find bike stuff in France. Not sure if I will be there long enough to go to one, but it sounds interesting
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
The few people I met who weren't helpful or friendly were not the norm, but they were there, as they almost certainly are in every place on the planet.
My initial post was made to warn against any assumptions that "everyone is nice," because that's never true.
-Gregory
#16
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
We have fine wines, pálinka (distilled fruit spirits), and ridiculously good craft beers if you're into that, but the latter can only be found in Budapest (mostly). As for cuisine, previously mentioned lángos is good stuff (greasy as hell, just like most stuff here), but don't pay more than 5-600 HUF for it, since it costs like 50 HUF to make...
#17
Senior Member
I took my Bike Friday folding bike to Paris in 2005.
Gorgeous city, but shortly after arriving and biking in the curb lane, had a motorcyclist use the 1 ft. gap between me and the curb to thread through at 50+mph. No joke. The right lane is supposed to be bikes, buses and turning vehicles only, but in reality, motorcyclists and scooters thread in and out of traffic at breakneck speeds. I learned to keep much closer to the curb as a result. Don't know if it's still the same way, it might have changed by now.
Gorgeous city, but shortly after arriving and biking in the curb lane, had a motorcyclist use the 1 ft. gap between me and the curb to thread through at 50+mph. No joke. The right lane is supposed to be bikes, buses and turning vehicles only, but in reality, motorcyclists and scooters thread in and out of traffic at breakneck speeds. I learned to keep much closer to the curb as a result. Don't know if it's still the same way, it might have changed by now.
Last edited by bargainguy; 06-04-19 at 06:08 PM.
#18
aka Tom Reingold
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,469 Times
in
1,435 Posts
We are Jewish, visiting Jews, so we are a bit wary, but so far, so good. There is political division, but there is also a respect for the fact that people have different views. We spent a pleasant evening with a couple who ostensibly support Orbán.
Right now, we are in the Kali Basin, around Lake Balaton. It's gorgeous. We did get a ride in already, and we did just fine. The food is amazing, and the wine is a pleasant surprise. Everything is impressive. A proper Hungarian table has salt, pepper, and paprika, and maybe even red pepper flakes.
The bikes I've seen here are unimpressive but functional. I might check out a bike shop in Budapest, which is our next stop.
Right now, we are in the Kali Basin, around Lake Balaton. It's gorgeous. We did get a ride in already, and we did just fine. The food is amazing, and the wine is a pleasant surprise. Everything is impressive. A proper Hungarian table has salt, pepper, and paprika, and maybe even red pepper flakes.
The bikes I've seen here are unimpressive but functional. I might check out a bike shop in Budapest, which is our next stop.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,846
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,822 Times
in
1,541 Posts
My experience in Paris was the French were very friendly especially if I at least tried to begin things in my very rudimentary French. I think that they A) appreciated the effort and B) didn't want me to continue to butcher their beautiful language. All those rumors of rude, snooty Parisiennes were just that rumor, very nice and helpful and even if I didn't have much command of French I could always say Merci! I know at one point they had a very robust bike share program in Paris -Velib but they decided to change vendors in 2018 and I understand that caused issues not sure what the current state of their bike share program is. There are about 370 km of bike paths in the city so if you can find a bike that bodes well.
Baguettes, Croissants, Vin Rouge especially St Emilion region. I had the best lunch of my life in a little brasserie near Notre Dame. Have fun Tom -Bon Voyage.
Baguettes, Croissants, Vin Rouge especially St Emilion region. I had the best lunch of my life in a little brasserie near Notre Dame. Have fun Tom -Bon Voyage.
and the simplest food is often the most fantastic.... simple sandwich of baguette (don't need to say fresh they are), tomatoes and cheese at a cafe near the Eiffel tower...I still think about
In paris do watch out for pickpockets and street scams......... three card monte with bad shills by gypsies is classic draw for pickpockets..... but the 3 card monte guys are no where as good as the ones I remember in NYC. and for agressive street vendors targeting me as and american.....I just started speaking german
it will be a great trip
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Last edited by squirtdad; 06-07-19 at 11:08 AM.
#20
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,006
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 280 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2198 Post(s)
Liked 4,600 Times
in
1,764 Posts
Lake Balaton. Nice! Mrs non-fixie and I have been to Keszthely a couple of times, and swimming in Lake Balaton was one of the highlights on both occasions. Breakfast was the other one.