Hello from SW France

[RMFrance]

I can’t believe that I haven’t seen this site until now, so apologies for the late arrival. :0)
Dad was a cycle (later motorcycle) dealer in East London, so I grew up with bikes, but lost touch for some years while living in hilly Cornwall.
Here in France (full-time since 2002) things are flatter, bikes are everywhere and I amuse myself between work commitments by finding and restoring classic French road bikes.

 

[Spiderweb]

I think @woodbutcher is in South West France and also like re homing and fixing up classic French road bikes.

 

[Grant Fondo]

Bon Soir

 

[RMFrance]

Thanks guys - if I can shed any light on French bikes just ask, and I’ll do my best to help.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Bonjour et bienvenue sur CycleChat
I've travelled to France for the last 4 years, so I can cycle in the Pyrénées and Alps, and I love it there. I haven't seen much of the rest of France, though: I stayed in Toulouse briefly a few times, on my way to/from the Pyrénées, and I saw Paris for a few days way back in 1997.

 

[Mrs M]

 

[Oldbloke]

Bienvenue from NW France

 

[gavroche]

Bienvenue from a Frenchman exiled in GB since 1970. Comment est ton francais?

 

[RMFrance]

Bienvenue from a Frenchman exiled in GB since 1970. Comment est ton francais?

Pas mal, à mon avis. :0)

 

[Donger]

I can’t believe that I haven’t seen this site until now, so apologies for the late arrival. :0)

.... could be because of language misunderstandings in French web searches. When I looked up "Cyclechat" when I was in SW France the first result that came up was for a site dedicated to the subject of menstrual cycles in cats !
As you say it is flat around there, I'm guessing you are in Les Landes? (Certainly not flat in the parts of SW France that I've visited). Looking forward to the occasional reports (and pictures) in the "Your Ride Today" thread. Welcome aboard.

 

[RMFrance]

Thanks! Seems like a friendly spot... I actually chanced upon it via a web search for a subject which was discussed in a post here. I do frequent several other forums, both French and elsewhere, which have generated some interesting contacts across the globe.
As for me, yes I'm based in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, but north of Angoulême, so while it's technically SW France, it's noticeably/mercifully flatter than many areas further south. Not that i'm complaining, for we have some great cycling country, including the Marais Poitevin and the Atlantic coast islands. Around here there's very little traffic, too, with a choice of tarmac for the road bikes or gravel tracks among the fields for the hybrids.
I also know S Glos, as my wife comes from Thornbury.

.... could be because of language misunderstandings in French web searches. When I looked up "Cyclechat" when I was in SW France the first result that came up was for a site dedicated to the subject of menstrual cycles in cats !
As you say it is flat around there, I'm guessing you are in Les Landes? (Certainly not flat in the parts of SW France that I've visited). Looking forward to the occasional reports (and pictures) in the "Your Ride Today" thread. Welcome aboard.

 

[Spiderweb]

Thanks! Seems like a friendly spot... I actually chanced upon it via a web search for a subject which was discussed in a post here. I do frequent several other forums, both French and elsewhere, which have generated some interesting contacts across the globe.
As for me, yes I'm based in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, but north of Angoulême, so while it's technically SW France, it's noticeably/mercifully flatter than many areas further south. Not that i'm complaining, for we have some great cycling country, including the Marais Poitevin and the Atlantic coast islands. Around here there's very little traffic, too, with a choice of tarmac for the road bikes or gravel tracks among the fields for the hybrids.
I also know S Glos, as my wife comes from Thornbury.

A beautiful region, I’ve spent some time cycling there. My friend has a house in Montpon-Menestrol, is that near you?

 

[RMFrance]

I do know it, although we're further NW, inland from La Rochelle and right on the border of Vienne, Charente & Deux-Sèvres - what used to be Poitou-Charentes.

 

[Fiona R]

I do know it, although we're further NW, inland from La Rochelle and right on the border of Vienne, Charente & Deux-Sèvres - what used to be Poitou-Charentes.

I'm now in N Somerset, used to be Gloucestershire (was near Thornbury on my bike on Sunday), we used to have a holiday rental very near you near Aulnay. Used to go over to Ile de Ré, Chef Boutonne and forest, Marais Poitevin down to Cognac etc Really miss it but most of our holidays were spent doing DIY not riding bikes. Welcome to CC 🇫🇷

 

[Dave7]

We took our bike to Porniche some years ago and really enjoyed it (even though our legs got quite badly burned on one ride).
We also had 3 weeks in La Tremblade, below La Rochelle but for some reason didn't take bikes.
One memorable cycling holiday we had was down south.....near Biot.