Stuck in france without my bike - fml

[Stray Cat]

hey guys

 

So I have been sent to the Bordeaux office of my company to work for three months!

I dint bring my bike along because

A ) The insurance company would have charged some ridiculous maount to cover me and my bike

B ) Air France would have also charged me a fortune and

C ) I thought id be working my ass off,

 

So.... since the only french I can speak involves ordering beer and food I have been doing pretty much nothing apart from drinking coffee (and beer.... it appears that this is acceptable during lunch especially when the client is having lunch with you) and surfing the net

 

I even forgot my bloody login details and have no access to my SA email.... so I had to create a new account

 

So, it turns out that cycling and especilly mountain biking is pretty dam popular here in bordeaux

 

So should I take the hit and go and buy a bike to ride in the early mornings or just carry on dreaming about my Merida back home?

 

Also, does anyone speak french? I am looking for a cycle shop here to get some cold gear and other kit for when I get back to sunny SA, apparently no one understands me when I say where is the bicycle shop? The websites have also been pretty rustrating

 

 

Cheers

[leet22]

Buy from CRC will be over next day and no tax as its EU i think

[Inusc]

buy and bike!

[Capcha]

If you have the money available, why not. Otherwise cant you buy a cheapy and use it from your hotel to work just to keep fit?

[RodTi]

Dude... "FML" pretty much sums that up!

 

Good luck buddy! As for the french/english translation - get one of those tourist-like phrase books - and speak Afrikaans first - they really don't like the Ainglaise!

[kosmonooit]

yea why not! Get something decent and flog it when you get back here. Travelling with a bike is less hassle than you think but a bike bag is also handy. You can try to blag extra weight as sporting equipment. In France you can also do outings by train with bike to cover distance then cycle, no hassle to do that last time I was there.

 

Take a look at Evans Cycles for some options as well. How about a hybrid?

[minjin]

Buy a "Le Peeck n Pay" heavy french special and ride it hard. Get the heaviest bloody bike you can and train your ass off. When you get back here you will

a) appreciate your SA bike

B) be stronger and fitter and kick all your mates butts

 

Just my 5c worth

[cat-i]

g.e.t. a b.i.k.e !!!

 

and post pictures!!!!

[Lucky Luke.]

hey guys

 

So I have been sent to the Bordeaux office of my company to work for three months!

I dint bring my bike along because

A ) The insurance company would have charged some ridiculous maount to cover me and my bike

B ) Air France would have also charged me a fortune and

C ) I thought id be working my ass off,

 

So.... since the only french I can speak involves ordering beer and food I have been doing pretty much nothing apart from drinking coffee (and beer.... it appears that this is acceptable during lunch especially when the client is having lunch with you) and surfing the net

 

I even forgot my bloody login details and have no access to my SA email.... so I had to create a new account

 

So, it turns out that cycling and especilly mountain biking is pretty dam popular here in bordeaux

 

So should I take the hit and go and buy a bike to ride in the early mornings or just carry on dreaming about my Merida back home?

 

Also, does anyone speak french? I am looking for a cycle shop here to get some cold gear and other kit for when I get back to sunny SA, apparently no one understands me when I say where is the bicycle shop? The websites have also been pretty rustrating

 

 

Cheers

 

Rent a bike. Seems there are plenty of shops offering the service near you.

[EigerSA]

wow, wish i had your problem.

[linnega]

Rent or just buy something cheap from Decathlon.

[linnega]

Oh - and use Google translate to get to grips with the language. If you don't have an Android phone, why not?

[the pooks]

Get a bike as quickly as possible. You get to all the small towns and places and back roads, away from the main drag. A bike is like an international passport in France - the French are super friendly to cyclists. You just start all conversations with Bonjour Monsieur or Bonjour Madame and the rest does not matter. We did a cycle tour there 6 months ago: Avignon - Pont du Gard - Arles - Camargue. What a jol.

[Mrs Pickled]

Try find your local Bouticycle or Intersport and ask for a Velo (road bike) or a VTT (pronounced Veh Teh Teh= Velo Tout Terrain) which is a mountain bike. The Intersport will be cheaper, but when we were over a while ago the guys at the Bouticycles (we visited a few) were super friendly and helpful.

 

Tell them you are from Afrique du Sud and you'll be fine

 

Have a blast dude!

[eggsovereasywithteandtoast]

Naaah, forget it!

Its only three months. The time will pass quickly so make the best of it indulging in culinary delights. Drink coffee in sidewalk cafes, drink beer that really tastes like beer and not frothy chemical water like the crap here. Enjoy the bread, in its various forms and flavours. Enjoy cheeses and deserts.

Point is: you can bike it up, when you're back home, but you wont be able to do all those wonderful self indulgent things.

Hey, who knows, you may even find yourself a handsome french fling for some alternative fun, if you frequent the right jols.

[Icycling]

I am a roadie, but have been to Bordeaux for the TDF on more than 1 occassion! Cycling in the region is GREAT - get the bike - leave it their at the office and get your company to send you back in June / July!!!! Make sure the work load is not too much.