Europe - Moving to France (Marseille area), should I bring my bike?

I applied for a year long university research position in France (Marseille, Aix-en-Provence area) and was chosen! Now I have 3 weeks to get ready and move (ack).

In New York, I commute everywhere by bicycle (touring bike I purchased at the beginning of the summer) and would like to take it with, or have it sent after I arrive. Is that a good idea? Or would I be better off finding something there?

For that matter, anyone have any tips on cycling in the area? Or bike shops? I think I'll have a 15km or so commute, but have no idea what the roads are like around there.

Hello,

I would just wait till you got to France and buy a used vintage bike there. Sorry I'm into the classic rides. One can usually find some cheap good bikes on the french ebay. Or you can go to the nearest TROC International (Us version of thrift stores) and see what they got. Good luck!

We moved to France over a year ago. I moved two bikes on the plane , which cost us 140 dollars( for two.) I don't regret it. The third was sent over with our shipment on the boat. Bikes cost about the same over here, minus the lousy dollar value- should you be dollar dependent.
You want to check out prices of bikes in France. Just google "Veloland,' or Bouti Cycle. They both have web sites. YOu are going to teach at Aix. A friends' daughter just got a positon at Aix. Provence, you will love cycling. Particular the inland valleys away from the coastal traffic.
Check out the Federation Francaise du Cyclotoursime, web site. Lots of bike clubs about . Almost every village has one, should you desire that kind of thing.

Sharon + I spent a week around Aix + Marseille last November, focusing on recreational bicycling. Pretty and fun for single-day bicycle tours (see photos (http://www.roberts-1.com/t/b06/p/k/index.htm)), so we're eager to go back.

But we did not find the roads near the cities of Aix + Marseille to be "bike friendly". It wouldn't surprise me it it took you a while to find a good route for commuting -- probably would help to get some very detailed maps of city + surrounding area.

For sure I would want to have a bike with me there if I had the luck to live there for a while.

Ken

I applied for a year long university research position in France (Marseille, Aix-en-Provence area) and was chosen! Now I have 3 weeks to get ready and move (ack).


I live in Aix en Provence, are you riding in france at the moment?