An American Singlespeed in Paris

I decided that for my 2007 bicycle tour I would try something different. One of the things that many cyclists have on their top to do list is to see le Tour de France in person, sure VS has great TV coverage but it just isn't the same as being there. Of course I needed to get to France to make this happen.

This is not about Paris, per se. This is about what I found while actually riding a bicycle in Paris. So don't expect a lot of pictures of frequently photographed landmarks. Maybe one or two. All of the camera work was handheld, Canon S230 digital, most of the shots with the exception of the Boeing (apologies to Air France if it's not public domain) were taken at street level while the bicycle was stopped.

Let's cut to the chase.

I had to use some special equipment.

One of the challenges of flying with a bicycle is getting the entire package in under the weight and size limitations imposed by the airline. One way to beat the oversize or overweight baggage charges is to pack small, which almost always requires at least a partial disassembly of the machine. Another way is to choose an inherently light and simple bicycle. I used both methods, I didn't expect assistance so the total package had to be portable along with my other luggage at one go.

Forty-five minutes work with an Alien tool and a 15mm wrench and I'm up and running.

I knew what to expect as far as traffic laws. The French are a civilized people and it really isn't that different from normal United States riding as far as the legalities in urban environments are concerned. They do the traffic lights a little differently, though. In the US we put the traffic lights after the pedestrian walk areas, in France before. This means stopping a little shorter at the lights. They have little mini lights mounted on the poles so that you can see what's going on if you stop a little long. The urban bike lanes are interesting.

Note the modality separation and the mirror on the right.

These are everywhere.

So forget the bike lanes and the Velo Libres. What's up with the tour? Well, we have to get lost a few times and ride up a big hill to get to the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday. Of course about a half a million people are also doing this...

The French can throw a party.

Uh, I SAID let them eat cake.

The rain finally stopped.

There wasn't an opportunity to shoot the actual race from where I was situated. I did see it going by and that was exciting, but there was no chance for a shot.

I guess it's time for a tourist shot.

What can you say about this. It's there, it's big.

It won't fit in one photo from this angle.

I went on a ride over to the Place de la Bastille, actually the Place where the Bastille used to be before they tore it down and sold off the remains as souveniers (in 1789).

Unfortunately I got lost again. How can an experienced rider get lost so easily, you may ask, after all the city has a river running through it and you're either on one side or the other. If you're going uphill you're going away from the river, if you're going downhill you're going toward the river, right?

Right. Except that line of sight is usually about two blocks, probably 60% of the streets are one way (the wrong way), and the signage is confusing (to me at least). Oh well, it's fun anyway.

A map reading stop. What I really needed was a compass.

Is there traffic in Paris?

I made it to the Place de la Bastille. I'm actually not lost at this stage, this is one of my map reference points.

The bicycle was a big hit in Paris, apparently singlespeed/fixed gear machines are rare. I got into several conversations about the bike. The French are not at all as rumored. I did my best to speak French only, but veloese helped. It's a universal language, at least among aficionados.

There are also a lot of motorscooters in Paris.

Place de la Bastille, the July column.

A boat on the Seine.

I'm told this is a famous church.

All good things must end. It's time to pack up and burn some kerosene for the States. I'll miss Paris, someday I'll be back.

Almost ready to roll.

Ready to roll.

Copyright 2007 by Eric S. Sande