Fat Bike Tour
Mar 7th, 2005, 11:12 AM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
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We took the evening tour last September, it was a very enjoyable evening. I have been to Paris many times and even though this is actually a tour of the city, we enjoyed biking to all the usual places, great commentary, fun boat ride at the end with wine, a great deal for the $. Bring something warm to wear if the weather is windy/cold. I would also think that the trips they have to Versailles and Geverny(SP) would be great and hope to do them one day.
Mar 7th, 2005, 11:27 AM
#4
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We did the one to Giverny last May and had a very nice time. First we went to a market and got some picnic food, went down by the river to eat, then biked (not very far) to the gardens. We really appreciated being able to enter as a tour (no waiting) as the line of individuals waiting to get in seemed quite long that day. The irises were amazing! Never sen so many kinds in my life.
Mar 7th, 2005, 12:47 PM
#5
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I took the evening tour March 27, 2003. This is from my trip report:
There were 19 of us, all but one were Americans. We rode 5 speed bicycles that were only 4 days old. The bikes all of names to make it easier to sort them out after the stops. Mine was named King Louis.
The ride was incredible. We were given reflective vests, but had no lights. Everywhere we went was well lit. We rode a mixture of sidewalks, parks and streets - mostly bicycle or bus lanes - but still mixing with traffic. I am guessing that the liability laws must be pretty lax in France, I wouldn't have wanted to be responsible for us. They offered helmets before the ride, but in a way to discourage our using them, and no one did.
The pace was steady but comfortable. I guess that the total ride was only about 10-12 miles. We stopped several times for details of the area, but mostly rode through busy downtown Paris by night. Most of the ride was on the left bank and we passed places like Les Deux Magots. One stop was for ice cream at Berthillon (Paris' most famous ice cream shop).
Then on past the heavily barricaded British and US Embassies to the boat for an hour ride.
Our guide, a Californian coincidentally named Mike, brought along 4 bottles of wine. So we chatted, sipped wine and rode the boat (which had batteries of flood lights along its sides) past Notre Dame, la Tour Eiffel, Musée D'Orsay and many other sights. The banks were lined with many small parties of young people who would wave and raise their glasses in toasts as we passed. Two young women mooned us.
Finally we rode back to the bike shop. It was a wonderful 4 ½ hour tour that I would do again.
Keith
There were 19 of us, all but one were Americans. We rode 5 speed bicycles that were only 4 days old. The bikes all of names to make it easier to sort them out after the stops. Mine was named King Louis.
The ride was incredible. We were given reflective vests, but had no lights. Everywhere we went was well lit. We rode a mixture of sidewalks, parks and streets - mostly bicycle or bus lanes - but still mixing with traffic. I am guessing that the liability laws must be pretty lax in France, I wouldn't have wanted to be responsible for us. They offered helmets before the ride, but in a way to discourage our using them, and no one did.
The pace was steady but comfortable. I guess that the total ride was only about 10-12 miles. We stopped several times for details of the area, but mostly rode through busy downtown Paris by night. Most of the ride was on the left bank and we passed places like Les Deux Magots. One stop was for ice cream at Berthillon (Paris' most famous ice cream shop).
Then on past the heavily barricaded British and US Embassies to the boat for an hour ride.
Our guide, a Californian coincidentally named Mike, brought along 4 bottles of wine. So we chatted, sipped wine and rode the boat (which had batteries of flood lights along its sides) past Notre Dame, la Tour Eiffel, Musée D'Orsay and many other sights. The banks were lined with many small parties of young people who would wave and raise their glasses in toasts as we passed. Two young women mooned us.
Finally we rode back to the bike shop. It was a wonderful 4 ½ hour tour that I would do again.
Keith
