Paris by train and then biking.

[suavecarve]

We have caught the train with our bikes from st cheron for the cheap 20 euros return for both of us.
So far the French SNCF police got on with us and didn't bat an eyelid with us standing by the entrance on the 55 minute journey into Francois Mitterrand bibliotheque station.
Notre dame and Saint chapelle passed but not interested in going into either. This is a whistle stop take photo and move on tour but we might do the Eiffel tower or the other one.
Riding the bikes is interesting at junctions. Not too sure what the rules are about lights and right of way and it is a bit like that pc game of a frog crossing a road. We may need some luck today. We have helmets on for the first time !

Chocolat chaud 5 euros each at a PMU

 

[suavecarve]

Seine bridge at the end of Ile de Paris

 

[suavecarve]

Jardin de Tuileries
Place de la Concorde and just about to cycle the champs Elysee.

 

[suavecarve]

Arc de triomphe and champs Elysees.
13 euros to go to the top of the arc.
Not allowed to cycle round to the roundabout at the arc (phew)

 

[Ken and Carol]

What a great idea for a trip. I'm off tomorrow to cycle to Tavera on the Algarve in Portugal but when I get back I might try and persuade my wife to do a similar trip with me. I'll watch this thread with interest so keep posting, please.

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[suavecarve]

Lunch at the Eiffel tower and a big palace. Just watching the traffic sorting itself out.
Only a couple of near misses so far. I think it's great fun, wife is enjoying it in between dodging vehicles. We have only gone up 2 roads the wrong way so far.

 

[suavecarve]

Deleted

 

[suavecarve]

Well it was mainly successful until a huge downpour and cycling on marble caused me to go A over T in an undignified heap.
Scared the bejesus out of the wife with bruising to shin hip and landing on a previously dislocated shoulder. Took a couple of minutes to get up and sat on the side before flaking backwards into the flower bed. Woke up to a Frenchman and wife putting me on my back with raised legs and was ok after that. Decided to walk the last 100 metres to the station. Now waiting for a delayed train back.
Eiffel tower and a cycle route tunnel about 2 Kms long with some decent graffiti

Will put rest of photos on when have better internet

 

[suavecarve]

2 at a time internet !

 

[jannyman]

How’s the bruising now suavecarve? Needed that helmet then! Take care!

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[Jo662]

How are you feeling today Jon,ok I hope. Good you put your helmets on.
Really enjoy the threads of your adventures

 

[Gaston aires]

Good thread and photos. We had similar experiences with the rules in Antwerp on Thursday. Other cyclists just flew past us and didn’t seem to stop for anything.
Phil

 

[suavecarve]

How’s the bruising now suavecarve? Needed that helmet then! Take care!

How are you feeling today Jon,ok I hope. Good you put your helmets on.
Really enjoy the threads of your adventures

All is good on the bruising. Ankle a bit discoloured but the shoulder probably popped out of alignment causing the fainting at the time and can't move it forward so just waiting for the muscles to relax a bit and it'll go back in. Beer seemed to ease the pain last night but it's no worst than a rough game of football at a weekend. Off cycling later so it really isn't that bad.
Cheers

 

[suavecarve]

 

[DBK]

I think you need to wear the correct protective clothing for cycling in Paris. You were very brave going dressed the way you were.

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[Pappy]

Me and Julie went on an organised bike ride round Paris about 25 years ago. It was run by a bunch of Texans. Fantastic trip, I thought the best way to see Paris.

 

[suavecarve]

So all in all we considered it a successful day out. It was a wet day with little else available for where we were.
Forgetting the palaver of the embarrassing fall then if we were to do it again a tad more research rather than winging it.
We would give consideration to doing one of the sights whether that be la Louvre the Eiffel tower Saint chapelle or the arc de triomphe. We would buy the "miss the queue" tickets. We wouldn't bother with a Seine cruise as we cycled it.
Alternatives include getting a train in and then renting either a "Boris" bike or scooter or motorbike (Bonne chance with the last) or there are the equivalent of tuk tuks or getting an open top 2CV from one place to another. You can also hop onto an open air bus.
Tickets for trains were easy to purchase from machine on platform but got busy closer to Paris so bikes became (to us) a bit of a hindrance but the French didn't worry. We had to take them up and down escalators and in lift at Francois Mitterrand bibliotheque station.
Parisians stopped to assist and we didn't feel the alleged attitude that is supposed to differ from other more rural areas.

It was great fun cycling round there but it really is a lottery at some places. Stop and take your time at each junction and see where you are going and have the confidence to do it. If you doubt you can do that then get the metro ticket. Interestingly we were given metro tickets by the campsite so whether they all do that or not we don't know.

 

[suavecarve]

Me and Julie went on an organised bike ride round Paris about 25 years ago. It was run by a bunch of Texans. Fantastic trip, I thought the best way to see Paris.

I agree. Cycling was great fun for me !