Bicycle GourmetCycle Tips

Producer/Director/Author Christopher Strong shares the human, senic, cultural, culinary, and historic “Treasures” discovered during the filming of his TV series – BICYCLE GOURMET'S TREASURES OF FRANCE.

Cycle Tips

1. It’s obvious. But needs to be said. Buy the best bike you can afford. “Best” meaning light, strong, comfortable, low maintenance, parts available everywhere. This is not a cost. This is an investment. This is your best travellin’ friend.

2. Get down with basic adjustments(like….you know……like changing a tire, adjusting da brakes, etc.) before you go.

3. I recommend four panniers. Front and Rear. Because you will need tons o’ space for all the goodies folks will insist you take away. Also, obviously, better to have your weight equally distributed.

4. Two water bottles are better than one. But don’t waste cash on the insulated-keeps-yer-stuff-cold-fer hours ones. They don’t. Mo beddah(and cheaper) wrap yer bottles in aluminium foil, put ‘em in plastic bags(to keep the foil from unravelling.) store in the fridge overnight. Next am…..you will have cool water fer hours.

5. Another keeps-it-cold essential is an insulted handlebar bag. If your items are cool/cold, then wrapped in plastic, and/or a tee-shirt, they’ll stay that way for a good long while.

6. FLATS:
You will have them! No matter how many space-age-material – tube protectors youy've stuffed in.
Know and respect the A B C'S OF FLATS:
a. You will have them.
b. They will occur at the most inconvenient times. (Like……….you know like…..…when you’re starving/freezing/have to pee, in a force ten gale?)
C. Most o’ them will be in da rear. Because that’s where the weight is.

7. Listening to music while you cycle is big no-no in my book. The idea,folks,is that NATURE provides the music.The birds. The wind through the trees. Rusting leaves. And in the south of France the music of the insects. Although,admittedly, the "song" of the cigales should be considered only as "background ambience." You may think I'm full of squirrel dookie on this rant. And that,dear reader,is your myopic, self-centered,know-it-all-whose-Mother-wears-army-boots opinion.
However, chew on this. Should you be foolish enough to shun the BG's advice, and descend a steep,unknown route at super- sonic speed with yer walkman cranked to "10" – will it perhaps slightly lessen your chances of hearing the Kenworth diesel that is approaching(supersonicly, of course)the blind corner at the bottom? Does the phrase "hamburger helper" conjure up an image or two for you here?

8.CAUTION!
My definition: Caution is a non-locational habit. It gives you two important things : Peace of mind. And, a bicycle. So, two locks. Everywhere. All the time. One through the front frame/wheel, the other through the back. Locked to something. Excessive? Subjective, dear reader. Subject to how many bicycles you've had stolen by NOT being cautious. N'est ce pas?

NEXT TIME : Image tips - "The Full Monty" - digital/analog/slr's/video

MORE “TREASURES OF FRANCE” at www.soulmuse21.com

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