Road Cycling - I'm cycling to Paris for the TdF.

To celebrate the beginning of the 2001 Tour de France, I'll be riding my bicycle to Paris. I'm quite excited. I've recently discovered that Paris is actually close enough to my hometown to ride there and back on the back roads in just a few hours.

Check it out:
http://www.parisky.com/chamber.html



:D

I'll have to wait until I get home before I can see the time trials. OLN isn't too popular in the bars in Paris...I don't think.

When you get to Paris, A. F., remember that it really makes a good impression on the natives if you at least try to speak French! :D

You better be careful, AF, you're starting to sound like me...stopping in the bars in the middle of a ride! And, in Paris, no less! WOW! Have a great ride!

Take lots of pictures, get locals to take pictures of you on your bike, by major landmarks... what a fun trip :D

This is on the way to Paris. I rode part of the way last weekend, and then turned toward Lexington.

We really do have the best horse farms in the world. I really love Central Kentucky.

"I really love Central Kentucky."

I can see why! :thumbup:

Sweet road AF,

Watch out for any garlic sellers with a berrie and stripey top on...

Cheers

Rich :D

AF,
Perhaps a trip to Versailles would be in order as well!?

How about La Grange?

And if your horizons expand after the TDF, there's always London and Glasgow.

Don't forget Frankfort! Some serious climbs there tho!

I'm from Kentucky, and you have a beautiful state to cycle. If you do camping, you might consider a mini-tour camping style to some of those gorgeous state parks in KY. :)

Hmm.. no Paris in my state.

BUT!

Here in Georgia, I can ride from Rome to Athens, via some pretty good size mountains. That would be Giro D'Italia meets The Odyssey, with banjo music wafting on the breeze. It's a long ride, but nothing to B.R.A.G. about.

Near Athens is the weird little town of Philomath, located along no named or numbered roads. To quote Michael Stipe, "You can't get there from here."

"Scuse me... I gotto go take a ride through Harlem now.

stumon, great reference to REM...one of my favorite bands.

Versailles and Frankfort are definites! I'll be close (er) to Glasgow on the 14th. I'm riding from Lexington to Mt Sterling part of the way on the state's only Rail to Trail.

London has mostly mountain trails. Since I'm strictly a roadie, I'll not need to be visiting there.

My cycling buddy from Brazil says that Americans have no imagination when naming cities.

"...take a break driver 8."

Originally posted by A F Baker

My cycling buddy from Brazil says that Americans have no imagination when naming cities.


OK, here's my (good-natured!) retort to your Brazilian buddy: "How about 'Brasilia'?!" :D

Originally posted by Stumon
Rome to Athens...through Harlem now.

What the heck! Why not go on to Dublin? We could see Elvis at Gracewood! Around Christmas we could go see Santa Claus! Feeling like golf we could cycle to Tiger. And, Oh yes!!! for those days the sweet tooth kicks in (EVERYDAY) we could go to Sugar Hill. :D

Lest we forget Cairo... pronounced "Cay-row," and home to the Pulpwood Truck Drivers' Hall of Fame!

Those of y'all not from the south... don't be frightened... You'll be okay here as long as you don't mention "tha War." Some folks here still seem to be intent on fighting it.

AF... I used to see REM in clubs way before they were famous... the guys went to school with my little brother & his best friend, so we ended up in these nasty, smoky little dives watching a very stoned Michael mumble incoherently for an hour or so. I used to caution my bro to "not turn out like him."

I was, at the time, more of a Hawkwind, Blue Oyster Cult, & U2 fan, and I thought that REM was just another doomed-to-be-obscure Georgia bar band...

Jeez, was I a lousy judge of talent & character! I've since repented, and have most of their stuff, on good old fashioned vinyl, BTW.

I showed up for the TdF in Paris, but someone forgot to tell me that the prologue was in Dunkirk. At least I made it home in time to see the last hour live on OLN. I did get some good pictures.
Here is one.

I found out that if I had an accident I could count on these guys to help me. :)

Didn't the French Revolution start here?

Downtown Paris. I didn't see the Eiffel tower!

Good photos! I like the looks of the downtown. I bet you were dripping during that trip--I can feel the humidity, especially in the picture of the horses....