cyclezealot

Cyclezealot checking in. trying to cope with European key boards::: now staying in Roussillon, France: initial reactions to european cycling: pretty good:::aths go everywhere:::no reports of cyclists being shot this week::::did some riding about Lille:::went up and rode about WW I battlegrounds by accident:::next major ride up the pyreenees to spain from the town of bou lou:::::miss california and see you again in a couple years after my wife gets in some time, teaching adults english:::anyone familiar with roussillon cycling::::any suggestions: sea ya later: love riding down the coast of cote vanille to spain: collioure awesome:

tulip

Coullioure is awesome...congrats on your life!

The Seldom Kill

If that's Rousillon in Provence then a little jaunt up Mont Ventoux is called for. Don't forget to visit the Tom Simpson memorial.

GP

I had Thanksgiving dinner in Fallbrook. You're not missing anything.

genec

Get down to the south of France for some real road treats... I could not believe the road surfaces there... just amazing.

cyclezealot

seldom kill roussillon is the department just north of spain: on the mediterranean; miss our bike frinends of fallbrook and ca has some greqt rides one thing noticed no fog dont miss that. tell french riders of disrespect for cyclists is US and they are surprised. however to how french treat cyclists= well ;there just is no comparson; the country roads here are incredible, met up with a bike club in St Andre for montly meeting= over 100 members , see riders everywhere. daily club has four organized rides a week checking out prices of new bikes . not as bad a price, as feared
club in question has a ride across the south of france in May members made me feel welcome and couple women kissed us on both cheeks in the french way even though they didnt know us from adam. plan to ride with them on wednesday. several speak english

cyclezealot

sorry all, this keyboard is driving me nuts

filtersweep

I am way north of you- still adjusting to being forced to use the paths upon occasion- but at least there are no pedestrians, dogs, broken glass, etc... roads here have no shoulders, and trucks look like they are out of that new Rammstein video... and it is constantly night time! Actually, I am loving it... just wish it didn't rain so much.

cyclezealot

sort of understanding the reason commuters don't wear helmets...see so many commuters in lille who just ride under 10 blocks to work. jeans, such short rides very functional. but, still i wear a helmet.
dufferece from caifornia. my chain is wet? is that rust. has to sit out on patio for awhile. have cover over it still looks like rust? lubes not diminish rust?

free_pizza

when i was in france (blois) to watch the 05 Tour De France, the Keyboards at the internet cafe drove me absolutly nuts!!! combied with significant amounts of alcohol, it was sometimes impossible to type in my password

tulip

Cyclezealot,

So are you in Lille or Perpignan? I'm confused. Maybe it's your keyboard.

gapowermike

I hate you.

cyclezealot

originally entered from Belgium / Lille.....Now outside of Perpigan in a town called Canet en Roussillon....right on the sea....great ride south...today disappointment, the winds...from the Pyreenees...must have gusted to fifty miles per hour....straight valley from highest mtn. east to sea...I could hardly stay upright...was to meet the Argeles bike club...large active group...instead I came back, headed north to have those gusts to my back...saw fewer other riders out...
winds seem to be biggest drawback to area cycling..weather pretty nice...One surprise...local buses do not have bike racks like in California.? !
VELO GIRL... you ever get here , give us a email....my wife gets placed here, this is were we will be... Collioure is tres joille.... need get an urban bike for city stuff see so many participate in about here....

Nicodemus

yeah, those "azerty" french keyboards are a PITA.

cyclezealot

this past week rode with the Argeles bike club twice::::great rides::ne problem; i find myself riding down the one lane country roads whenever possible:::: great ride::love the trees over the road. almost not need your shades because the canopy of the trees are so thick::::: but; on the one lane roads, i find the roads are a little bumpy, resulted in two pinch flats so far, but the scenery is worth it::: weather not quite as nice as calif; but pretty nice. tights are in order: but; again the winds, off of Mt. Canigou are awesome. almost think you cant keep the rubber down. on the beach road south of Canet must have been passed by a french cyclist training for the national team:::: this guy in French national team kit passed me by::::but, he was towing a dude on a mtn bike and the guy was FAR heavier than me::::the guy in tow was holding onto the first bikes seat post for miles on end::: and he passed me by like i was standing still. sorry, still have not the knack of this french keyboard.That kind of speed with 250 lbs in tow:::must have been a pro. next major ride on a nice day want to attack the pyreenes from ceret:
and yes stop in the patistrisies know the shops where the locals appreciate practicing their english;

cyclezealot

did about a 60 km ride today . finding some favorite rides . to do a group ride with the argeles club on sunday. but returning: coming up the coast there is a marshy area between canet and st cyprien: the winds blow direct from the highest nearby peak of the pyreenees, Mt canigou. i recall reading that the spanish tour the riders find the flatlands to be the most treacherous. i can see why: i could not keep the bike upright. and the sun was fantanstic. but, no other cyclists were out. know i know why: 70 km per hour gusts: i almost walked much of the coast back to canet. this time of year ride inland adjacent the pyreenees. you get a little wind block::: it is easier to climb a mountain over gusts coming at you at 90 km hour, i suspect.

Satyr

I feel obliged to point out that much of the keyboard lunacy you experience is not European so much as FRENCH. A Swedish keyboard is virtually identical an American one far as letters are concerned. The other symbols are switched and we have three letters that English does not. Likewise, a German and Swiss keyboard (from the German speaking parts) has only the Y and Z switched (as Y is not used often in German, save in loan words). Of course, German also has three letters English does not, and these are represented.

Have you looked into switching the format of your keyboard through the OS? In Linux you can switch to virtually any country's keyboard layout. Sometimes there are problems. For instance, using an American laptop with Swedish layout poses some problems, as there is no 2nd Function key, though one could always define one I guess. I frequently switch from Swedish layout to Domestic American layout when typing mathematical documents in LaTeX, since the symbols LaTeX uses are easier to execute in American layout.

cyclezealot

satyr before we left the states we bought an international labtop with a us keyboard: i am somewhat getting the hang of the keyboard arrangement:::ne problem, you have to use the control alt function far more to use traditional characters and i sometimes just feel too bewildered go through the extra motions.

cyclezealot

another day of cycling on sunday...found a great bike lane that parallels the Agly river from perpignan to the Mediterranean...great ride ...did it twice. lots of wading birds at the mouth of the river to watch. not much cyclists traffic on sunday. couple families training young children for cyclists of the future. was wide enough for a auto route but solely for cyclists. and winds were tame.

huhenio

I hate you.

Drink my share of wine you ER##$%#QAS!!!!### (cursing with an euro keyboard)

cyclezealot

to my surprise recently stopped at a vintner on the outskirts of Angers sur mer... Roussillon often not on the wine routes we frequent...it was a great red. want something different try the banyuls red. mildly sweet great for the holidays.

cyclezealot

checking in after two days of great riding...little cold compared to california. need shoe covers this am. but, yesterday. what a ride. share this in case anyone gets to Roussillon...visited the Cave Byrrh in the near mountain town of Thuir...i highly recommend this ride...starts in Perpignan and terminates in the town of Thuir....Thuir has a cave that produces Cinzano and Dubonet...awesome taste. fortified wine with Lychee fruit and others added.
but the ride prior to the tastings. a 20 km bike path from near the Gare in Perpignan to Thuir...the pathway was build for cyclists by the owners Pernod. through incredible vineyards. the pathway is probably 20 feet in width, passing gradual hills , vineyards, and orchards to Cave Byrrh... in the distance is the Pyreenees. don't miss this ride.
today rode with the Palau del Vidre bike club. nice to see motorists respect cyclists and a ride through the vineyards. the pastry shop break was great. breakfast on the club for the new American even though my French stinks.
and yes. far less frustrated. bringing in our new labtop instead of using french keyboards.

tulip

You've been there long enough--your French ought to be getting pretty good by now. Keep at it, don't speak English at home...this is your chance!

And I'm pretty sure that huhenio still hates you after your latest wine tasting bike trip. Sounds delightful.

genec

Too bad you will have to return to American moron motorists at some time.

cyclezealot

Hello all...today did a 100 km ride...found the Perpignan approach to the bike path that leads to the Cave Byrrh...Great ride.today's ride was from Canet to Perpignan down the bike path to Thuir and back to Canet via Argeles Plage...
for those seeking this path to Thuir..go to the Perpignan Gare...go south and cross the Tet flauve and turn south. great ride...no tastings today..one case is enough..
the test ..to see how locals react to cyclists going through Perpignan and route 162 from Thuir to Elne...narrow and a little busy..and as of today. motorists seemed to have plenty of patience even though I caused them to slow down and pass.
locals say this is cooler than normal.. could have used a face shield this am. but later on the temperature was just fine on the return...yeah..Velo girl. maybe my french is now up to a voculblary of 100 words..working on that.