I dream of going to France...
11-22-15, 12:31 PM
#1
Bike Butcher of Portland
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I dream of going to France...
...with a laptop and my eBay account. Purchase, in advance, a nice vintage rando/touring bike, and plan a tour to match this guy's Côtes d'Azur & Bleue 2015 flickr trip.
This pic is so fabulous, it doesn't seem real:
While on this trip, I'd seek out WiFi at restaurants and hotels along the way, and bid on cool stuff.
I see bikes like this all the time. Shipping to the US typically kills the deal:
At the end of the trip, rent a van for a few days and collect my winnings.
If I could buy 8-10 of them in good condition and ship them back to the US in bulk for not too much money...give them a little TLC, open up a little side business, maybe call it "Velos je ne sais quoi".
Ah, I know it's only a pipe dream...too many complications...but grown men have dreams too!
This pic is so fabulous, it doesn't seem real:
While on this trip, I'd seek out WiFi at restaurants and hotels along the way, and bid on cool stuff.
I see bikes like this all the time. Shipping to the US typically kills the deal:
At the end of the trip, rent a van for a few days and collect my winnings.
If I could buy 8-10 of them in good condition and ship them back to the US in bulk for not too much money...give them a little TLC, open up a little side business, maybe call it "Velos je ne sais quoi".
Ah, I know it's only a pipe dream...too many complications...but grown men have dreams too!
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
11-22-15, 01:00 PM
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11-22-15, 02:10 PM
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I dream of riding all around Europe. Taking in the countryside and bathing in the history of the land.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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11-22-15, 02:11 PM
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I want to do the PBP. Its in the realm of pure fantasy though, to make it actually happen....so many impediments.
11-22-15, 03:04 PM
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Stop by your place, and realize someone's already collected more bikes than I have time left to match...
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
11-22-15, 03:10 PM
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Same here - although I'd love to go with a cargo container and filling it with more C&V bikes
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
11-22-15, 03:15 PM
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Yes, bike riding around France is a worthy dream.
We visit my wife's family in Bayern every four-five years.
This is my backyard to enjoy in general terms.
We visit my wife's family in Bayern every four-five years.
This is my backyard to enjoy in general terms.
11-22-15, 03:19 PM
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11-22-15, 03:35 PM
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In addition to the scenery, in the couple of places I've ridden in France (Annecy and Aple D'Huez) , people, including those in cars, respect cyclists.
11-22-15, 03:37 PM
#12
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And if you could, would you rather be the guy painting, or the one sunning? There is no wrong answer.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
11-22-15, 03:53 PM
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11-22-15, 04:09 PM
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11-22-15, 04:30 PM
#15
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I was surprised not to see nice C&V bikes in France, Italy and Spain when I visited the countries in the last few years....
Mostly just obscure branded "grocery getters" and folders, especially in the cities...
Cycle shops weren't that common than I thought they would be either..... My last time in Paris, I only saw one or two little shops Long the way while going around the city.....
Mostly just obscure branded "grocery getters" and folders, especially in the cities...
Cycle shops weren't that common than I thought they would be either..... My last time in Paris, I only saw one or two little shops Long the way while going around the city.....
Last edited by Chombi; 11-22-15 at 08:03 PM.
11-22-15, 05:06 PM
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I was surprised not to see nice C&V bikes in France, Italy and Spain when I visited the courier in the last few years....
Mostly just obscure branded "grocery getters" and folders, especially in the cities...
Cycle shops weren't that common than I thought they would be either..... My last time in Paris, I only saw one or two little shops Long the way while going around the city.....
Mostly just obscure branded "grocery getters" and folders, especially in the cities...
Cycle shops weren't that common than I thought they would be either..... My last time in Paris, I only saw one or two little shops Long the way while going around the city.....
That's the norm.
Transportation first, in many cases.
11-22-15, 05:09 PM
#17
Still learning
Perhaps the case in those locations, but a friend of my former business partner while on a canal tour was permanently disabled in a car incident while cycling.
11-22-15, 05:11 PM
#18
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I treasure my bike time in Germany. Wonders around every curve and castle ruins on every hilltop it seemed. Lovely small towns easy ride from each other and no problems with cars.
Leave the apt, hit a farmers market for a bottle of beer, bread and cheese for my lunch break and then head out. Found a nice spot and enjoy the thrill of living in another country.
It was a great experience during the mid 80's.
Leave the apt, hit a farmers market for a bottle of beer, bread and cheese for my lunch break and then head out. Found a nice spot and enjoy the thrill of living in another country.
It was a great experience during the mid 80's.
11-22-15, 08:42 PM
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Yea, I had the same experience in and around Zaragoza Spain in the late 80's, early 90's. Not only did we never have any problems with vehicles, but we made several riding friends despite the language barrier. Great times.
11-22-15, 08:57 PM
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The Netherlands too...would recommend it to even a very tentative cyclist, as my wife was when we went in 2011. Best vacation ever!
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11-22-15, 09:17 PM
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Don't just dream, go! Probably the most wonderful trip I ever took was in 1976...my girlfriend and I flew to England with our bikes and camping gear, then rode all through England, all over northern France, and through western Switzerland, camping at whatever spot presented itself at the time. Many of our days looked just like that picture. Well guess what, I was just in France and Italy (to ride L'Eroica), and it still looks exactly like that...a dream come true.
Here's how my wife and I can afford to go there...
We apply for airline mile credit cards. Usually there's a 50,000 mile or so bonus for signing up for a new credit card (it generally will cost you 60,000 of those miles for a R/T ticket to Europe). We then channel all of our spending through the cards and make sure to pay them off every month. About once a year we review our cards, cancel a few, and apply for others, getting additional 50k mile bonuses. Right now we have between us about 400,000 "miles", even after spending a bunch to go to Eroica this year. There are a ton of websites that discuss how to play this game. If you really want to go to Europe and you don't have a ton of disposable income, this is the way to go.
If you buy a bike over there, you can ship it back as excess baggage in a box or bag. Coming back from Eroica this year I brought back my buddies bike and mine stuffed into the smallest box possible. Lufthansa only charged $100 euros (about $120) for the shipment.
Here's how my wife and I can afford to go there...
We apply for airline mile credit cards. Usually there's a 50,000 mile or so bonus for signing up for a new credit card (it generally will cost you 60,000 of those miles for a R/T ticket to Europe). We then channel all of our spending through the cards and make sure to pay them off every month. About once a year we review our cards, cancel a few, and apply for others, getting additional 50k mile bonuses. Right now we have between us about 400,000 "miles", even after spending a bunch to go to Eroica this year. There are a ton of websites that discuss how to play this game. If you really want to go to Europe and you don't have a ton of disposable income, this is the way to go.
If you buy a bike over there, you can ship it back as excess baggage in a box or bag. Coming back from Eroica this year I brought back my buddies bike and mine stuffed into the smallest box possible. Lufthansa only charged $100 euros (about $120) for the shipment.
11-22-15, 10:15 PM
#22
Bike Butcher of Portland
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Don't just dream, go! Probably the most wonderful trip I ever took was in 1976...my girlfriend and I flew to England with our bikes and camping gear, then rode all through England, all over northern France, and through western Switzerland, camping at whatever spot presented itself at the time. Many of our days looked just like that picture. Well guess what, I was just in France and Italy (to ride L'Eroica), and it still looks exactly like that...a dream come true.
Here's how my wife and I can afford to go there...
We apply for airline mile credit cards. Usually there's a 50,000 mile or so bonus for signing up for a new credit card (it generally will cost you 60,000 of those miles for a R/T ticket to Europe). We then channel all of our spending through the cards and make sure to pay them off every month. About once a year we review our cards, cancel a few, and apply for others, getting additional 50k mile bonuses. Right now we have between us about 400,000 "miles", even after spending a bunch to go to Eroica this year. There are a ton of websites that discuss how to play this game. If you really want to go to Europe and you don't have a ton of disposable income, this is the way to go.
If you buy a bike over there, you can ship it back as excess baggage in a box or bag. Coming back from Eroica this year I brought back my buddies bike and mine stuffed into the smallest box possible. Lufthansa only charged $100 euros (about $120) for the shipment.
Here's how my wife and I can afford to go there...
We apply for airline mile credit cards. Usually there's a 50,000 mile or so bonus for signing up for a new credit card (it generally will cost you 60,000 of those miles for a R/T ticket to Europe). We then channel all of our spending through the cards and make sure to pay them off every month. About once a year we review our cards, cancel a few, and apply for others, getting additional 50k mile bonuses. Right now we have between us about 400,000 "miles", even after spending a bunch to go to Eroica this year. There are a ton of websites that discuss how to play this game. If you really want to go to Europe and you don't have a ton of disposable income, this is the way to go.
If you buy a bike over there, you can ship it back as excess baggage in a box or bag. Coming back from Eroica this year I brought back my buddies bike and mine stuffed into the smallest box possible. Lufthansa only charged $100 euros (about $120) for the shipment.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
11-22-15, 10:48 PM
#23
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My wife doesn't like to ride either. However, she loves hanging out in Tuscany, sipping Chianti and painting the scenery. Our kids are grown, but we did take them on a similar trip a number of years ago. That will require a few more "miles" but is definitely doable.
11-23-15, 04:08 AM
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I, too, would love to ride the roads of Europe, particularly those of Italy. Sadly, I have to settle for five months in Jamaica instead.
Poor me!-(
Poor me!-(
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11-23-15, 04:28 AM
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And here I am, a € 29 train ticket away from Paris (AirBnB's are really cheap now... go figure) and all I do is dreaming about getting a custom MTB welded up in some shed near VT/Moab/Marin County
The grass surely is greener on the other side.
The grass surely is greener on the other side.