So just back from Paris, and although I didn't take my bike... we rode the entire weekend on these totally amazing death-charge-tank free city bikes called the 'Velib' bikes.
The basic deal is that there are over 10 000 of these tank like three geared machines at stations all over Paris, and as long as you only use them for 30 minutes they are totally free of charge. Which is amazing, no need to carry a lock or anything, you literally pick one up, ride to where you want to go and dump it again. Any technical issues like flat tires / gear issues, again you can just dump it back at a bike parking bay, where one of the Velib technicians will come and fix it.
These bikes are by no means a replacement for a lovely speedy Plug that you can get around super fast on - they do weigh a total tonne, but otherwise are pretty functional... if someone car-doored you on one of these you'd definitely win, which I think is why they are so popular with everyone in the city, not just those who are already cyclists. The 'sturdiness' of the bikes along with the fact that there are loads of bike lanes all over the shop (on the pavements) has made cycling in the city totally accessible to all sorts of people, even people like my mum - who generally is scared to death of bikes and thinks that me riding one in the city equates near death every day.
So massive points to Paris and the Velibs for getting the whole city on wheels and creating a system that finally stops people being petrified of cycling in busy cities... I really hope the London equivalent launching this summer works out too, but somehow think they are going to struggle if they don't sort out their bike lanes.
The other highlights of Paris was a trip to the Catacombs - miles of tunnels under the city full of skeletons from all the thousands on Frenchies killed in various wars and plagues.. met a pretty hot dude down there... def worth a visit if you go, it's a pretty amazing sight.
Back in London now and pretty happy to be on a light bike again... also got a box of tyres in from Bontrager to greet me on my return... thank you, mine were getting well holey so good timing...
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