Salut les rosbifs

[Sylv]

Hi everyone from Lyon, France. A little update as have been there for a month now – but still waiting for a permanent internet connection .. those 15th century buildings don’t like new technology .. Also still in process of fully refurbishing the place, so have become a master in painting, plastering, laying tiled floors, installing blinds etc. I had forgotten how nice it was to live in France : ) and also in the heart of a city. Little things like having 15 great bakeries and restaurants within a 5 minute walk. God knows it’s busy here, right in the cobbled narrow streets of the old town ( it’s Paris-Roubaix every time i ride home).

It’s been a bit hectic not only on the flat front, but i have tried to make the most of the often summery weather here (snow, what snow!?), with a few awesome rides, I had never ventured too far out of town and always on the same rides, but there are some great roads and beautiful countryside on your doorstep. No real need to go to South France for a training camp as soon as it’s warm enough here, I’ve seen places that remind me of it, as well as the Jura and Alps mountains. You can climb up to almost 900m high, from 180 by the rivers, in the Monts du Lyonnais westwards or even closer Monts d'Or to the North. You can also have a completely flat ride, good for recovery, by going out North East to the Dombes and its zillion ponds.

Strava is good for identifying the local riders of similar strength (and getting in touch with them when they receive an email that their kom was taken!), a few of them race for a club that I will probably join when I find the time .. the only drawback so far is the typically horrendous French kit with the supermarket sponsor plastered across it. Btw, I’ve noticed a massive gap to the uk in terms of online information on local clubs and even the national federation. No such thing as clearly constructed club websites with forums and such here, and I have come to regret the British Cycling website with its easy to find info, reports and racing calendar! It’s probably a technology thing, we used to say that Uk was one year behind the USA, and France 10 years .. still rings true. Take Strava, Box Hill has some 30,000 entries, while the local equivalent here has 300. Road surface is way better than the Uk, but far from perfect on smaller roads. The shared bikes are great though, never tried one in London, but got a yearly sub here – think some days i’ve used 5 or 6. Had a parking problem one night though, no empty spots to be seen apart from 10 min walk from home, and a 0.75 euro fine for exceeding the 1/2h allowed slot!

Anyway my first race is in two and a bit weeks .. and is a running race : ). Lyon is built around a couple hills, and I’ve always enjoyed doing runs here with crazy staircases climbs and super steep hills. Last year I watched this race doing exactly this with thousands of entrants, I had crutches and a freshly reconstructed ACL, and promised myself to have a go the following year. I’m only doing the short, 12km distance (600m climbing), there is also a 23 and a 38km with crazy climbing, but I don’t want the training to impede on my cycling. I can train for it literally on my doorstep though, which is real handy when you only have an hour free. A group of 80 of us went to reccy the route the other night, should be good hard fun, really looking forward to it.

First cycling event will be a 150km sportive from Lyon end of April, doing an organised reccy on Monday. Lots of climbing too (2,700m), and looks more like an actual race – as they do here. Have a few other sportives in mind in the Alps, but need to join a club in order to race. And of course the week-long Haute Route in August. Going to have to watch the weight, being in the gastronomic capital of the world.

Not missing the clubrun quite yet especially reading the weather updates, but I’m sure it will come! Read about the fatal crash in a road race recently, sad news – be safe and keep turning the pedals. And let me know if you’re around Lyon sometime ..

[img]http://www.lyon-rvl.com/images/images_site/images_rvl_1000/images/vieux-lyon-nuit800.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.1.vacanceo.net/classic/375093.jpg[/img]

[Mohammad L]

Sounds awesome Sylv! I would love to live in France

[DavidKennett]

[quote="Sylv"]15 great bakeries and restaurants within a 5 minute walk.

[Andrew G]

Great to hear from you Sylv and it sounds very nice indeed. You seem to have settled in like a native .

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

sacre blue!!!!! Ma fois!!! How did I miss this?? Have you gone for good, Sylv???

A 'feel like' MINUS FOUR expected tomorrow at CSS @ 9.00!! You're missing a character building never ending winter here. Did you know something the weather men didn't?

Great timing.

anyway, have fun in la belle france. A bientot.

Jon

[quote="DavidKennett"][quote="Sylv"]15 great bakeries and restaurants within a 5 minute walk.

[Keith]

Great to hear from you Sylv.

[quote]... a few of them race for a club that I will probably join when I find the time .. the only drawback so far is the typically horrendous French kit with the supermarket sponsor plastered across it....

[Sylv]

Already posted Keith, I'll save everyone's eyes

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

well, it's different.

[olderigetbetteriwas]

jeez, it looks and sounds great round where you are, sylv. weather still freezing here.

[Iliya]

Good to hear from you Sylv. Cycling and food wise you seem to have made right decision to move back to France,
I am sure there are other advantages too.

Britain is slowly drifting into ice age. The winter just won't give up on us. This weekend we had first sunny days in a while but its still cold.

Stay in touch.

[Rogan]

Great pictures Sylv! Love the look of your new home...
Why haven't we got a 'Boulangerie St jean?!'
Looking forward to more posts from you as the season progresses.

[Andrew G]

Keep on the pastries Sylv, you'll get some proper meat on those bones .

[NickW]

Looks fabulous Sylv.

I bet you don't have a Poundland though.

Actually I guess that would be a Euroland.

[NickW]

Looks fabulous Sylv.

I bet you don't have a Poundland though.

Actually I guess that would be a Euroland.