pedalturista

veloturista

2007-10-24T01:18:00.000+02:00

http://veloturista.blogspot.com is how i intend to keep an account (diary kinda thing) of my work...

goodbye england

2007-10-17T16:32:00.001+02:00

this is it
i quit my job in england
i'm staying where my heart is
in paris
and i'm making my dream come true
becoming a bicycle messenger

a bientot

pedalturista

2007-09-23T14:57:00.000+02:00

so, veloturista [veloturista.blogspot.com] is now
pedalturista. bonne route

riding to fontainebleau

2007-09-14T08:41:00.000+02:00

98.65km
average speed 19.38
ride time 5:05
from paris, along le seine, through la foret de senart, to fontainebleau:
gare de lyon, along le seine, towards choisy le roi, athis-mons, grigny, across le seine to draveil, through la foret de senart

to st. germain les corbeil, st. pierre du perray, saintry, morsang, seine port, across le seine to ponthierry, jonville, brinville, st. saveur, perthes, and barbizon, through la foret de fontainebleau, to le chateau and to avon to catch the train back to paris.

pedalturista photos

riding along le seine to foret de senart

2007-09-12T23:35:00.001+02:00

riding along le seine to foret de senart, originally uploaded by pedalturista.

the plan was to get to fontainebleau (following the itinerary in: http://mayq.com/Cycling_out_of_paris), but i got lost a few times (the senart forest is amazing) and after 69km it was getting a bit late, so i ended up getting to the town of evry to catch the train back to paris... i'll try again tomorrow

riding the canal de l'ourcq

2007-09-06T18:44:00.001+02:00

riding the canal de l'ourcq, originally uploaded by pedalturista.

i rode from place de la bastille on the pistes cyclables along boulevard richard lenoir, canal saint martin, parc de la villette, out of paris, and then along the canal de l'ourcq, through the parc de sevran, passed villeparisis, all the way to claye-souilly, and then continued on to trilbardou. 90k there and back. i wonder how far the path along the canal goes on for. i'll find out sometime soon...

trip photos (and directions): http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedalturista

leaving zahara de los atunes...

2007-08-29T17:07:00.000+02:00

algeciras to cadiz aug07

2007-08-27T15:24:00.001+02:00

algecirastocadiz.aug07, originally uploaded by pedalturista.

we flew from paris to malaga via madrid with our bikes on the 12th. we spent the night in marbella, at my cousins. the following day, we started the bike trip in marbella, riding the autovia (motorway) del mediterraneo to algeciras, but it was way too dangerous (too many cars going too fast). the other option was to go inland, but it would have taken longer and we wanted to ride along the coast. so we took the bus from san pedro (near marbella) to algeciras, and then we rode from algeciras to tarifa. about 25km (we forgot both our computers...) climbing two mountain tops (puerto del bujeo and puerto del cabrito). and then it's pretty much downhill to tarifa. we spent the night in rio jara camping (it was full but they let us put our little tent in a corner). up early and off to zahara de los atunes, along the coast, beautiful weather and views, quiet (ish) roads. lunch with my (other) cousins and on to los caños de meca, we stayed in faro de trafalgar camping (again full). last day we rode to san fernando (just outside cadiz) where sophie decided to take the bus (she didn't want to go on the autovia) and i rode to cadiz. it was sophie's first bike trip and our first trip together and we both loved it.

trip photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedalturista

le petit dejeuner... (due south)

2007-08-09T10:58:00.001+02:00

le petite dejeuner, originally uploaded by pedalturista.

we're off to spain on saturday the 11th (my birthday!). it's our first trip together with our LHT's. and it's sophie's first cycle touring trip... and first trip on her baby trucker.... we're flying to malaga, then riding to marbella and staying there with my cousin. 2nd day marbella to san roque, 3rd day san roque to barbate, and last day barbate to cadiz... and then, we're staying there... two weeks... riding our bikes... two weeks of sun, sea, and my mum's food. pedalturista p h o t o s

sophie's baby trucker

2007-08-06T13:53:00.001+02:00

sophie's baby trucker, originally uploaded by véloturista.

getting ready for our trip...

paris bff poster

2007-07-22T21:14:00.003+02:00

paris bff poster, originally uploaded by véloturista.

paris bff postcard

2007-07-22T21:14:00.001+02:00

paris bff postcard, originally uploaded by véloturista.

sophie's LHT

2007-07-22T21:00:00.001+02:00

sophie's LHT, originally uploaded by véloturista.

... ready for our trip, due south, in august

sophie's LHT

2007-07-22T20:59:00.001+02:00

sophie's LHT, originally uploaded by véloturista.

... baby LHT

sophie's LHT

2007-07-19T23:16:00.001+02:00

sophie's LHT, originally uploaded by véloturista.

...

sophie's LHT

2007-07-17T22:14:00.001+02:00

sophie's LHT, originally uploaded by véloturista.

the frame is finally here... i'm building sophie's LHT soon

view of les champs elysees

2007-07-13T17:16:00.001+02:00

view of les champs elysees, originally uploaded by véloturista.

i love riding in the city

Bicycle Film Festival

2007-07-11T14:50:00.001+02:00

Bicycle Film Festival, originally uploaded by véloturista.

Bicycle Film Festival in Paris: 26th - 29th of July

daydreaming part2 contd.

2007-07-09T16:07:00.001+02:00

daydreaming part2 contd., originally uploaded by véloturista.

we were considering the crosscheck, but after a lot of thinking, we're going for the LHT, size 46, in blue. i called brixton cycles this morning; it's in stock and they're ordering one for us. it should be ready before the end of july....

one rabbit, an aeroplane and the fox

2007-06-30T17:40:00.000+02:00

early morning commuting ride to work...

(british) summer...

2007-06-30T07:03:00.001+02:00

(british) summer..., originally uploaded by véloturista.

and i'm wearing my winter gear.
this has to be the crappiest june ever! i don't mind the rain... i quite like riding when it's raining... a little bit, every now and then, but... it's june!
where's the summer? i miss the sun

freedom

2007-06-27T21:53:00.001+02:00

freedom, originally uploaded by véloturista.

one LESS car

sophie's LHT

2007-06-21T18:45:00.000+02:00

sophie's new bike
still in planning/daydream process

I think it's going to be a size 50... in blue

...

LHT vs CC

2007-06-12T20:31:00.000+02:00

LONG HAUL TRUCKER vs CROSS CHECK

Same trip: London to Paris in 3 days. First trip in April, second trip with very similar weather conditions (nice) on the LHT in June.

Both bikes were loaded the same: bar bag, front panniers, rear panniers, tent, sleeping bag and mat. Pretty much the same weight. I also used the same rear wheel and drivetrain. However, I had a Surly Nice front rack on the Cross Check but on the Long Haul Trucker I used a Tubus Tara low rider. I love the Surly Nice front rack. It's so... nice, solid piece of kit. It looks like it can take anything; and the extra space on top is a brilliant idea for carrying stuff, like your tent, or the sleeping bag, but it is a little bit heavy. Apart from the obvious weight difference, the tubus carried the weight lower which made the LHT more stable. And that was one of the main differences: the LHT felt a lot more stable than the CC always, even off the saddle, going uphill, and also going fast downhill. And more confortable.
My LHT is a size bigger (58) than the CC and it has a higher stem/bars set up. This, along with the taller headset tube, and laid back angles, make the LHT so much more comfortable. I have a very upright position, my back and neck are more relaxed, and even my ass doesn't hurt so much after six hours on the (new Brooks!)saddle.

The handling on the LHT felt more controlled always. My new Brooks leather bar tape also helped: The new one is a lot softer to the hand/fingers. I think the leather is treated differently on the new one and it has holes so it doesn't get all wet and slippery with the sweat.
The different tyres also made a big difference: 32c Continental Top Touring 2000 on the CC and 35c Schwalbe Marathon XR on the LHT. The fatter tyres ("fatties fit fine") on the LHT roll faster and also add comfort to the ride. I had mudguards on both bikes but on the LHT, even with the bigger tyres, didn't have any toe overlap issues.

My Cross Check is staying in England, set up fixed for my 20 minutes commuting ride to work, with rear rack and panniers, perfect, comfortable enough (I might change the stem for a shorter one), fast, responsive. And I'll take it offroad too. My Long Haul Trucker is at home in Paris, and is my touring bike. I'm already planning my next trip: from Paris to Cadiz (my hometown in the south of Spain); fully loaded, riding south.

london to paris june 07

2007-06-12T19:43:00.000+02:00

london to paris april 07

2007-06-07T18:05:00.001+02:00

3 days, 224.48 miles (370km)

11.04.07
Langley to Portsmouth
73.88 miles
6:27'
Ferry overnight to Le Havre

12.04.07
Le Havre to Poses (Camping)
64.96 miles
6:03'

13.04.07
home to Paris
85.64 miles
7:28'

-Have a nice ride- says Andy,
and I’m off to Paris. It’s 8:25 in the morning,
clear skies, not too cold, nice.
Hey, what’s that noise?
is it the wheels?
weird…

I’ve been dreaming with this trip for a long time.
My girlfriend lives in Paris and I spend a lot of time in the city of lights,
I kind of live there now.
Everytime I’m on the plane, watching the coastline through the clouds,
I’m thinking of riding those roads, all the way home to Paris.
I’ve been planning the ride, getting the bike ready, for months.
I normally ride my Surly Crosscheck fixed for my commuting ride to work at Heathrow.
It’s the first time I ride a geared bike in years. I have 30 gears!
I’m not used to it.
And that noise… so annoying!
I think it comes from the pedals. It’s the shoe against the rubber seal on the Eggbeaters.
Oh well, ride on…
I downloaded my route itinerary and some maps from viamichelin.com (pretty cool
because you can specify you’re on a bicycle), but I could do with a proper map.
That sign says “Bucks Horn Oak” and according to Michelin I’m halfway to Portsmouth.

Lunch break in a forest. Beautiful trees, peaceful, away from the traffic.
A bit of butter from my sandwich on the seal of the pedals will hopefully do the job and get rid of the noise.
The sun is shining. I could do with another coffee.
The bike feels a bit funny with all the weight. Going uphill, all the way to Butser Hill, pass Petersfield. The view is just amazing from up here and I hope it’s all downhill from here to Portsmouth.
It’s 6:05 and I’m at the harbour. The ferry doesn’t leave until 11pm, so I have plenty of time to chill out, get some dinner and enjoy this feeling. 73:88 miles in 6 hours 27 minutes.
The guy on the Cannondale says –that Brooks saddle looks painfully new–

-Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ll soon be arriving at Le Havre…-
I didn’t sleep very well on the ferry. It’s 7:30 and I feel tired.
-Good luck- says the policeman and I’m out of the harbour.

-un café, s’il vous plait-
A cereal bar and a banana and I’m trying to find my way out of Le Havre. I eventually find Le Pont de Tancarville and it’s quite impressive. I wonder if that’s the Seine river.

The plan is to follow the river to Paris, but I don’t really have a set route plan. I bought a couple of maps in the shop in the harbour, and I want to stick to D roads, secondary roads with less traffic.
So I end up doing a bit of a silly loop to get to Pont Audemer at 12:25.
Normandy is beautiful.

I’m riding these little country lanes and I feel part of the landscape…
farm houses, trees, cows, … and another steep hill to Boughtherolde and then I’m riding a smooth road through a forest.
Now it’s the D313 to Elbeuf, and D321 to Pont de-l’Arche with a bit too much traffic.

I wish I had time to stop because this place looks very interesting, but it’s getting late and I still need to find somewhere to sleep tonight.
Sophie calls, she’s found me a camping site in Poses. It’s not too far.
64.96 miles later I’m pitching my tent. 6 hours on the saddle. I’m so glad I brought the sore-ass cream.

Birds singing everywhere.
I slept very well.
The sun is rising and I’m on my way home. Looking at the map it looks like a very long way. I reckon it must be at least 130 km to go, but I want to get home tonight. It’s friday night and Sophie is waiting for me. We’re doing the same trip on our tandem in May, but in 4 days.
Now, I’m doing it in 3 days, I hope.
28 miles later and I’m in Vernon, it’s hot and I’m running out of water, so lunch break it is!
The barman comes out and looks at my bike… -beau velo- and he offers cold water to refill my bottles. People are so nice around here; every cyclist on the road waves and says “bonjour”, even some people in cars! And this bloke on an old Peugeot who sees me looking confused at an intersection and comes to ask if I need help… -merci monsieur, bonne route!-
4 Euros 40 cents for a coffee and un sandwich de saucisson a l’huile and ride on…
from Vernon to La Roche Guyon, and then Vetheuil.

I couldn’t resist the ice cream.
I’m sitting on a bench in front of Le Mairie, enjoying my ice cream and looking at my bike:
I could have done without the mudguards… I’ve had some toe clearance issues.
I’m amazed I can carry so much stuff up and down these roads. I don’t have a lot of things in my front panniers but it helps balance the weight. My tent and the sleeping mat are on top of the rear panniers.
I haven’t had a single flat tyre, or any mechanical problems…
I feel I could just keep going, keep riding, on and on… Paris, and then the Pyrenees, and then the Spanish Mediterranean coast, all the way to Cadiz, my hometown, and then Africa, and then… I’m daydreaming again.
I find my way to Dracourt, then Sailly, and eventually Meulan. The landscape has changed, I’m getting closer to Paris. Now it’s the D190 all the way.
Lately, I’ve been doing quite a bit of riding around Paris on my fixed Steamroller, North; East and South, but I only got as far as Versailles West of Paris. After St-Germain-En-Laye, I’m trying to find Le Pecq. It took me a while but I’m on the right way now. Nanterre next. I can see La Defense in the distance. It’s straight on now, I think.

The N15 into Paris seems the only way unless I go back and find another route into the city.
But it’s late, it’s getting dark and my ass hurts, so I ride on the autoroute. Crazy. Too many cars, too fast… a few scary minutes later I’m in Paris, near the Bois de Bologne; I know my way home now. I see the Arc de Triomphe and the lights, and the city.
Bonjour Paris!
I feel so happy.
85.64 miles in 7 and a half hours and I’m home.
London to Paris in 3 days.
224.48 miles (361.41 km) in almost 20 hours riding.
Sophie has cooked a Spanish omelette a la Parisienne.

v e l o turista

2007-06-07T14:32:00.000+02:00

turista a velo