A Bike Friendly Country

Vélo Note: Je suis perdu

A cyclist’s paradise and a welcoming country for riders of every level. At a roundabout decorated in honor of the Tour de France, I paused for a moment. The race had passed through here earlier that summer, and the display was a traditional show of support often seen in the French countryside—one of the many signs of the deep appreciation the French have for cycling and those who travel the land by bike.

While I was stopped, a motorcyclist approached and asked where I was heading. I told him I was on my way to Beaune. He kindly offered directions, even though I already knew the route. Still, the flow of cyclists and the beauty of the countryside carried me along, and before I realized it, I passed by Chagny and heading to Lyon.

Rather than riding toward Beaune, I had drifted in the direction of Chalon-sur-Saône. After about an hour on the road, I finally noticed my mistake. I turned around and rode back to Chagny to correct my course.