We will be starting in Colmar but also in Strasbourg and finally Paris at the end of the trip before coming home to Portland where we know all about stolen bikes. We are not riding from place to place. It was just to have the option of going on bike rides when we are in different places. We've traveled many times and have found the thing that kills us after a few days is the amount of walking that we did from sun-up to well after dark. So just hoping to mix things up a little.
Thank you for your responses about the locks. I would agree with you about the helmets as well. i grew up without one and have still never had an accident, however my wife is more cautious and this would be a pointless argument.