First Bike ride in Valence

I am a walker. As such, biking around town is not something I usually do to get around; however, when I need to get some place in a hurry I will bike. I had to do this yesterday in Valence. This was my first ride in Valence and it proved to very interesting to not only bike in a new city but a different country. Until this experience yesterday I never quite understood how different biking around town as opposed to walking. Listening to friends' stories about their adventures being cut-off by cars or chased by angry transvestites through the streets all while on a bike seemed like another world to me. These things don't happen when you walk.

Now yesterday's ride did not end with being hit by a car or chased by someone, but it was quite the adventure. I needed to go to LeClerc, which is like a Super Target in the States only more food items than good items. It is about two kilometers from where we live. I needed to get there quickly for two reasons. First, I had to get there and back in about an hour because I was fixing lunch for Patrick and had to be back by noon. Second, it was cold and the less time outside the less time I have to spend warming up later. One might ask, "Wouldn't riding a bike in cold weather make you more cold?" Answer: No, I actually stayed more warm because I peddled the whole time. It was wonderful to stay so warm.

Valence has wonderful bike lanes for cyclist through out most of the city. The lanes are right next to the sidewalk and our labeled with a green and white picture of a person biking. The cars are very aware of cyclist on the road and share they the road, which is great because you don't have to worry about getting hit by them as much. However, French people have a wonderful habit of double parking and parking on the sidewalk. I normally find this act funny because of the blatant disregard for the traffic laws, which no one seems to care about here. However, I was in the bike lane, where I am suppose to be, only to have a car parked right there. I became annoyed. I came close to being hit, but as I said drivers here are aware of cyclists. It also helped that my bike was neon green, so I was hard to miss.

As I rode I began to realize that cycling is more interactive for me with the world I am biking through than walking. People were more aware of me because I was moving at a faster pace than the pedestrians but a slower pace than the cars. As such a one-eyed dog, which looked like an adorable stuffed animal, was more aware of me (maybe my bike) and ran at me with a bark that scared the living daylights out of me. The dog was like the rabbit from Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail, no pointy teeth but ready for a fight. The equally adorable elderly woman walking the dog was a little slow for my liking when pulling the dog back; but I survived.

After the minor yet traumatic run in with the dog the rest of the ride to LeClerc was pleasant. Once I got to LeClerc it took some time to find the bike rack. Most people in Valence use bike locks but often they do not lock the bike to anything. Many people would merely place the lock in between the spokes of the back tire and the frame. I guess, in theory, it keeps someone from riding the bike but does not keep someone from carrying your bike off. What was even stranger was all the bikes locked in this manner were nicer than the bikes locked to the bike rack. I did not understand the way the bikes were locked or not locked. I have come to say the phrase, "I guess that is how they do it in France." a lot to explain these things I do not understand.

I did my shopping and biked home, uphill. I do not want to give the impression that I live on top of a great hill. Valence's hills are no Rocky Mountains or even foot hills, they are little. However, when your used bike's gears decide not to change as you go up that hill it is not fun at all. In fact, the gears and the breaks were a little unsteady for most of my ride but a free bike is a free bike.

This was my bike ride to LeClerc. Alas, my bike ride home was uneventful but it is probably for the best. I look forward to other rides in and around Valence. Who knows what biking in France will have in store for me. I realized two things after my first ride. First, I need to get my neon bike's brakes and gears updated so I do not have any accidents. Second, I need to practice French phrases like "Attention!" (watch out). As well as learn how to say French phrases such as "Where is the bike rack?" and "Please control your crazy dog!"

Peace,
Molly