My wife Berta and I just returned from a short bike tour. How we savored the scenery and architecture as well as our joy of touring were all strongly influenced by your videos. Your videography informed how we perceived, your narration how we appreciated. Both greatly enhanced our tour. Thank you Roland.
Wow. What an incredible thing to say! I'm so glad your tour was so beautiful. Touring helps me get out of the habitual way of seeing the world, maybe its the sense of adventure but it lets me perceive in a completely fresh way. Thank you so much for your kind words!
Just another outstanding video. My wife won't allow me to watch any of your videos with out her. Your channel has become her favorite channel to watch. She enjoys the videos so much as do I. Thank you and take care, Al
@@TheBicycleTourists She hasn’t in the past but we got her an electric bike this year. She enjoyed it last summer for the three rides we went on. My secret to staying up with her is I carry the lunch and snacks😁😁😁
You met some interesting people, Catherine is one of them. I like the mediterranean vegetation, the Languedoc is différent of the french riviera, more discreet but beautiful.
Excellent work R&J. Roland, your voice over narration is simply flavourful. The figure of speech that you incorporate in your storytelling narrative, e.g. honey coloured villages, immediately transports the viewer (at least me) to mind visuals, much like when we read a book. Wishing you both happiness and love with your family and friends, Atb, That Travelling Guy….
@@TheBicycleTourists yeah, I bet, I loved the view of the med, when I was in the city of Taormina in Sicily, it's at Least 1000ft above the water. One had to take a gondola to the beach. My favorite city in Sicily.
@@TheBicycleTourists yeah, avoid September and October, those are the hot months. I do mean hot....like a 120*! But I'd say, go as early as possible, June and July are better months.
Thank you again Roland & Julianna for sharing your journey. It has been very helpful for the planning of our trip along the Canal des deux Mers in September. Safe travels on the rest of your journey. Bob
So glad this is useful! When we planned our route we weren't sure what to expect, there was a surprising lack of good information out there. I also understand it's getting some great improvements as of late. Enjoy!
It is getting some improvement, hence la deviation (for construction workers peace of mind and cyclists safety, a common french practice). Some improvement which is getting *unsurprisingly*, beside the trumpeting, last September of the beginning of the civil engineering works, not much information. For the record, typical french, no such thing as two teams starting at each end and working their way towards each other, instead, dozen of teams working in parallel in an apparently uncoordinated way (it is not) building segments unconnected to each other’s (I suspect it’s deliberate, it makes the new trail unrideable and prevents interferences between riders and construction workers). Weeks before a new track is due to open, you get the impression that it will never open on time, then l jigsaw puzzle like, all the last unfinished bits fall into place, at amazing speed, and Boom 💥 there’s a brand new cycle path fully finished, ready to be cycled.... and for a local politicians photo-op. I suspect that that’s what is going to happen with this refurbished/upgraded 121km segment across the Département de l’Aude. What sort of improvements are planned (if any ?) about about that dirt track, approaching Agde, across Agde, down to the iconic lighthouse at the entrance of the canal is a mystery. There are no information ( double checked, cross-checked various sources, including VNF), nada, zilch, nothing !
It is equally hard here trying to find information on construction. Apparently we're all on a "need to know" basis, and they don't think we need to know.
Bonjour Bob, Update (source local paper 27-05-2023) the section of Green lane (Voie Verte) between Portiragnes and Agde is completed and open (16 km). Judging by the picture published in that paper, the surface of that upgraded/new cycle path is made with this « Vegasphalt » or is it « vegetalsphalt (?) this, no first hand experience, yellowish hard compacted sand mixed with a vegetal glue. It looks smoother than a baby bottom. The junction between the Voies Vertes West and East of Agde (across the town center) is still filed in the to-do list...
That was fun! Wow what an incredible view from your hotel room!! My husband just flew over to Europe from Seattle for a 2 month bicycle tour, Ireland, France, & Germany. Your vids inspired him to get out there :) Thanks guys for sharing your vlogs, we always look forward to every episode!
Wow, nothing could make us happier. Bicycle touring is a game changer for travel and seeing the world. It's fantastic to know that our videos inspire others, like others have inspired us, and continue to do so. Thank you so much for the comment! And bon voyage to your husband!
We are having a break with friends. Finished Bordeaux to Toulouse. Next to Adge in a few days. Did a tour of an Olive factory. They said you only try an olive raw off the tree once! 😀 thanks for the inspiration and tips
I so enjoy your videos! I am in the market for a new bike as we begin touring for longer self supported rides and am wondering what bike Julianna rides?
Thank you! It is called a Histoire Grande Globe-Trotteuse Classique. It's a European model, so depending on where you live it may or may not be available; Julianna picked hers up in France.
We found her on BookingDotCom, but here's her direct website (which I'm sure is better for her). I've also included it in the description on YT. www.ovillagebnb.com/en
Thankyou for the lovely video. I’m watching the whole series. A question please - when using Komodo t to plan your routes, did you choose bike touring or gravel option? Thankyou
I may have missed it but would you mind sharing the details of the lovely b&b with the goldfish you stayed at. I would love to surprise my wife with a night off camping
Can’t go wrong with “le Guide Michelin” or Gault et Millau. 16€ for G&M Occitanie guide is money well spent and an opportunity to discover not only restaurants but also talented Artisans ( bakers, delicatessen shops, pastry shops...etc.) off the beaten tracks.
We probably would do well to use some kind of guidebook. But everything changes so fast these days. Restaurants closed, hours changed, etc. It's hard to keep up.
French, proudly, resist fast change !!! 😉 On a more serious note, indeed, hours change, there are off-season closure, occasionally, 4th generation businesses go under...etc, it takes only a short email to check.
Although it's great having trails to follow, we actually love getting off the trails. I call it crossing the grain of the land, and it affords totally different scenery and experiences. A good blend makes for a perfect touring experience for us!
“crossing the grain of the land”, how beautifully worded, love it ❤️ ! Genuinely happy that this [temporary] deviation didn’t spoil your journey but instead gave you the opportunity to meander off the canal beaten towpath.
Bonjour Julianna, Quelle surprise (not) a bike manufacturer which acknowledges that difference in “geometry” (torso/legs length ratio) between men and women. Your bike reminds me very much of the iconic Peugeot PK65 Dame or Lady (sometimes labeled Mixte) which they sold like [expensive] hot cakes in the 70ies. Imagine that a specifically designed bike for female rider bike with 531 Reynolds tubing (number of Reynolds tubes, still debated and a matter of controversy) and exact same quality components found on men’s bikes (Maillard, TA, Strong-light...etc). The PK even had short-reach (not short-pull) brake levers that gave women with smaller hands than men a sure grip on the brakes and avoided fingers numbness in long descentes. Go figure. .... and then, it went downhill with, supposedly, “one-gender-fits-all” bicycles, let aside brake levers.... Wishing you many happy kilometers...or miles, even, on your stylish bike. Claude.
Enjoy ing all your videos. We tour like you did, using hotels across Europe. You might like a channel called Daphne and Irwin. Great production vale’s too.
My wife Berta and I just returned from a short bike tour. How we savored the scenery and architecture as well as our joy of touring were all strongly influenced by your videos. Your videography informed how we perceived, your narration how we appreciated. Both greatly enhanced our tour. Thank you Roland.
Wow. What an incredible thing to say! I'm so glad your tour was so beautiful. Touring helps me get out of the habitual way of seeing the world, maybe its the sense of adventure but it lets me perceive in a completely fresh way. Thank you so much for your kind words!
Just another outstanding video. My wife won't allow me to watch any of your videos with out her. Your channel has become her favorite channel to watch. She enjoys the videos so much as do I. Thank you and take care, Al
Thats awesome to hear! Does she also ride with you?
@@TheBicycleTourists She hasn’t in the past but we got her an electric bike this year. She enjoyed it last summer for the three rides we went on. My secret to staying up with her is I carry the lunch and snacks😁😁😁
Perfect! And the electric bike seems like such a great idea. We saw so many people iun Europe touring on e-bikes. It opens up a lot of places!
Once again here on a Saturday morning with Sue watching your amazing journey across France.
So glad you enjoy our videos! Nice garden Sue has started too!
Glad to be part of your morning!
@@juliannahenley4921 I'm the gardener, Sue's job is to take pictures, and Sue always gets poison ivy.
You met some interesting people, Catherine is one of them. I like the mediterranean vegetation, the Languedoc is différent of the french riviera, more discreet but beautiful.
Catherine was an absolute gem. Meeting people like her fill our cup, remind us that this world is full of kindness and humanity!
The ocean and the view! Wow! The canal over the river…what an engineering feat! 🙏🏻
Boy o boy we got lucky with that room. Upgraded - one of the perks of traveling off- season!
Enjoying watching your journey. Hard work but looks like so much fun.
Thank you Terri! It gets easier as the days go on!
Excellent work R&J. Roland, your voice over narration is simply flavourful. The figure of speech that you incorporate in your storytelling narrative, e.g. honey coloured villages, immediately transports the viewer (at least me) to mind visuals, much like when we read a book.
Wishing you both happiness and love with your family and friends,
Atb,
That Travelling Guy….
Thank you so much, Atb, I'm lucky to have discovered something that feeds me in so many ways! And it truly is a pleasure to share this stuff.
Each episode is better than the last. Thanks for taking us along.
Thanks Don! I do feel like they are improving. It's been a new craft since retiring, keeps me "working" and definitely keeps me learning!
Another beautiful view, love that med view. Another excellent video too!
Thanks Dennis. Our time on the Mediterranean was brief, but so memorable.
@@TheBicycleTourists yeah, I bet, I loved the view of the med, when I was in the city of Taormina in Sicily, it's at Least 1000ft above the water. One had to take a gondola to the beach. My favorite city in Sicily.
Julianna is mostly Sicilian. We need to get out there and explore! Sounds beautiful!
@@TheBicycleTourists yeah, avoid September and October, those are the hot months. I do mean hot....like a 120*! But I'd say, go as early as possible, June and July are better months.
Thank you again Roland & Julianna for sharing your journey. It has been very helpful for the planning of our trip along the Canal des deux Mers in September. Safe travels on the rest of your journey. Bob
So glad this is useful! When we planned our route we weren't sure what to expect, there was a surprising lack of good information out there. I also understand it's getting some great improvements as of late. Enjoy!
It is getting some improvement, hence la deviation (for construction workers peace of mind and cyclists safety, a common french practice).
Some improvement which is getting *unsurprisingly*, beside the trumpeting, last September of the beginning of the civil engineering works, not much information.
For the record, typical french, no such thing as two teams starting at each end and working their way towards each other, instead, dozen of teams working in parallel in an apparently uncoordinated way (it is not) building segments unconnected to each other’s (I suspect it’s deliberate, it makes the new trail unrideable and prevents interferences between riders and construction workers).
Weeks before a new track is due to open, you get the impression that it will never open on time, then l jigsaw puzzle like, all the last unfinished bits fall into place, at amazing speed, and Boom 💥 there’s a brand new cycle path fully finished, ready to be cycled.... and for a local politicians photo-op.
I suspect that that’s what is going to happen with this refurbished/upgraded 121km segment across the Département de l’Aude.
What sort of improvements are planned (if any ?) about about that dirt track, approaching Agde, across Agde, down to the iconic lighthouse at the entrance of the canal is a mystery.
There are no information ( double checked, cross-checked various sources, including VNF), nada, zilch, nothing !
It is equally hard here trying to find information on construction. Apparently we're all on a "need to know" basis, and they don't think we need to know.
Ha, I didn’t know that 😁
See, we ain’t that different 😛😘
Bonjour Bob,
Update (source local paper 27-05-2023) the section of Green lane (Voie Verte) between Portiragnes and Agde is completed and open (16 km).
Judging by the picture published in that paper, the surface of that upgraded/new cycle path is made with this « Vegasphalt » or is it « vegetalsphalt (?) this, no first hand experience, yellowish hard compacted sand mixed with a vegetal glue.
It looks smoother than a baby bottom.
The junction between the Voies Vertes West and East of Agde (across the town center) is still filed in the to-do list...
Great place to ride 😊
Yes indeed, France serves it up on a silver platter!
Bonjour,
another video with a pleasant atmosphere!
Bonjour! So glad you like it!
Beautiful ride and another one for the bucket list rides!
Right? The bucket list keeps getting longer. When are you guys doing the Arctic?
That was fun! Wow what an incredible view from your hotel room!!
My husband just flew over to Europe from Seattle for a 2 month bicycle tour, Ireland, France, & Germany. Your vids inspired him to get out there :) Thanks guys for sharing your vlogs, we always look forward to every episode!
Their videos have inspired many, including me. Just that I’m planning it next year.
Wow, nothing could make us happier. Bicycle touring is a game changer for travel and seeing the world. It's fantastic to know that our videos inspire others, like others have inspired us, and continue to do so. Thank you so much for the comment! And bon voyage to your husband!
Happy Trails, TTG, so good to get out there!
We are having a break with friends. Finished Bordeaux to Toulouse. Next to Adge in a few days. Did a tour of an Olive factory. They said you only try an olive raw off the tree once! 😀 thanks for the inspiration and tips
I'm jealous. Yeah, I doubt we'll try another! have a great time, say hello to the Mediterranean for us!
Just curious, as to what made the bed maximum comfortable.
Fun to go on your tours!
Quality mattress, perfect balance of firm and soft. Maybe just attention to detail from our wonderful host?
I so enjoy your videos! I am in the market for a new bike as we begin touring for longer self supported rides and am wondering what bike Julianna rides?
Thank you! It is called a Histoire Grande Globe-Trotteuse Classique. It's a European model, so depending on where you live it may or may not be available; Julianna picked hers up in France.
Do you have a link to the place in Ouveillan? I only get booking sites.
We found her on BookingDotCom, but here's her direct website (which I'm sure is better for her). I've also included it in the description on YT.
www.ovillagebnb.com/en
Thankyou for the lovely video. I’m watching the whole series. A question please - when using Komodo t to plan your routes, did you choose bike touring or gravel option? Thankyou
Hello Jane, thanks for following! I use Bike Touring, which allows for some gravel, some paved, which is perfect for us.
I may have missed it but would you mind sharing the details of the lovely b&b with the goldfish you stayed at. I would love to surprise my wife with a night off camping
Catherine, host of OVilage BnB, Ouveillan. www.ovillagebnb.com/contact
Make sure you tell her we highly recommended her!
Too bad there's not an app for restaurants as reliable as Komoot for trails. Congratulations on the milestone.
Can’t go wrong with “le Guide Michelin” or Gault et Millau.
16€ for G&M Occitanie guide is money well spent and an opportunity to discover not only restaurants but also talented Artisans ( bakers, delicatessen shops, pastry shops...etc.) off the beaten tracks.
We probably would do well to use some kind of guidebook. But everything changes so fast these days. Restaurants closed, hours changed, etc. It's hard to keep up.
French, proudly, resist fast change !!! 😉
On a more serious note, indeed, hours change, there are off-season closure, occasionally, 4th generation businesses go under...etc, it takes only a short email to check.
Bonjour R&J,
Glad to see that you enjoyed the last leg of your journey (?) alongside the worse, from a cyclist perspective, part of the canal.
Although it's great having trails to follow, we actually love getting off the trails. I call it crossing the grain of the land, and it affords totally different scenery and experiences. A good blend makes for a perfect touring experience for us!
“crossing the grain of the land”, how beautifully worded, love it ❤️ !
Genuinely happy that this [temporary] deviation didn’t spoil your journey but instead gave you the opportunity to meander off the canal beaten towpath.
Yes, those quiet country roads are the best!
Indeed, but *Off* season (Yet, another perk 😉).
Worth noting, Cap d’Agde, winter-permanent population: 25k, Summer population: 300k !
I too find fault with beds, mainly because they are too firm. Perhaps I am spoiled with a memory foam mattress at home.
Ha. My problem is usually when they are too soft!
Juliana, how are you enjoying your new bike?
I love the geometry it is very comfortable for me and the gearing is superb. It was an easy transition from the Salsa to the new bike in France.
She also looks very stylish riding it!
Bonjour Julianna,
Quelle surprise (not) a bike manufacturer which acknowledges that difference in “geometry” (torso/legs length ratio) between men and women.
Your bike reminds me very much of the iconic Peugeot PK65 Dame or Lady (sometimes labeled Mixte) which they sold like [expensive] hot cakes in the 70ies.
Imagine that a specifically designed bike for female rider bike with 531 Reynolds tubing (number of Reynolds tubes, still debated and a matter of controversy) and exact same quality components found on men’s bikes (Maillard, TA, Strong-light...etc).
The PK even had short-reach (not short-pull) brake levers that gave women with smaller hands than men a sure grip on the brakes and avoided fingers numbness in long descentes. Go figure.
.... and then, it went downhill with, supposedly, “one-gender-fits-all” bicycles, let aside brake levers....
Wishing you many happy kilometers...or miles, even, on your stylish bike.
Claude.
Yes, miles and kilometers both, as many as we can squeeze out of this short life!
Enjoy ing all your videos. We tour like you did, using hotels across Europe. You might like a channel called Daphne and Irwin. Great production vale’s too.
Thank you! We will definitely check that out!