Bicycle touring

The bicycle touring , it is initially and above all the Tourisme with Bicyclette. One cannot separate the two shutters from this activity which concerns above all the Loisir S and is very distant, at his origin, of very practical competitive was this with oneself.

That which practices this activity is a tourist-cycling .

For France this activity is organized within the French federation of bicycle touring .

Forms of bicycle touring

The bicycle touring can be declined, according to the covered distance, the duration of the voyage and the type of embarked material.

The Randonnée consists of a one day way or a half day (the touring cyclist then who can also be called hiker cyclist , the tendency being here more sporting). It does not require a particular material, with share what to repair a puncture, of what to drink and eat.

The long excursion makes it possible to make a loop of several hundred kilometers with equipment of Camping (case of the cyclo-camper) and of repair more complete. Special clothing is also to envisage, to face the weather risks. One can thus make the turn of a country closest to his borders, or rejoin a distant city while crossing one or more country. One can go until making the round the world tour with bicycle, by envisaging an important material in particular to be able to repair (almost) any type of damage in all circumstances.

The formula Audax is defined as a test of regularity and endurance, with imposed pace led by captains of roads controlling the speed of the group. This one, between two controls is of 20,22,5 or 25 km/h according to the profile of the course (time average announced in advance) for the cyclists. She knows her origin on June 12th, 1897, with 12 Italian cyclists trying with bicycle the raid Rome-Naples 230 km, between the rising and to lay down it sun. 9 succeeded, their attempt was described as daring " Audax" Latin translation of the daring qualifier. This gave place to many exits in group and the birth of the bicycle touring. In 1904, Henri Desgrange, already father of the Tour de France, allured by this formula and wanting to start again great sporting tourism with bicycle import this type of excursions in group in France and create the " Audax français". In 1904, on April 3rd takes place the first patent of 200 km cyclist. July 14th, 1921 is created the Union of Parisian Audax Cyclistes (U.A.C.P.), which will become, on January 1st, 1956, Union of French Audax (U.A.F.).

In France and continental Europe, a network of dedicated ways, véloroutes or green lanes , is in the course of installation to facilitate the interurban connections for the touring cyclists. These ways are especially arranged for the practice of the bicycle to the variation of great flows of motorized circulation, while borrowing tourist routes and by giving access to equipment dedicated to tourism: zones of leisures, camp-sites, trade…

The economic consequences of this practice appear sufficient with the local government agencies so that they take into account the development of this type of equipment, even if sometimes criticisms and the encouragements of associations of users make it possible to accelerate the things.

History

Paul de Vivie known as Vélocio is undoubtedly a character impossible to circumvent of the bicycle touring. At the same time theorist and organizer, one sees it on the vélocipèdes Gauthier brothers with Saint-Etienne as of 1881, before being one of the first users of the bicycles known as of safety .

In 1896 start to be formed in the area of the gatherings of the first enthusiasts (rather of the men, in general of the notable ones, but it happened that a woman can take part in it). These pioneers founded the School Inhabitant of Saint-Etienne. The first excursions begin then (Lyon - Nice in less than 12 midnight).

Some then seek a form of Hygiène of life, relatively strict for the time, recommending some food interdicts… This is far from being divided by all the disciples of the School Inhabitant of Saint-Etienne, who however follow as a whole some principles, fruits of the long experience of the founder. They are known since 1930 like the seven commands of Vélocio :

to make rare and short halts, in order not to drop pressure;
to take light and frequent meals, to eat before being hungry and drinking before being thirsty;
never not to go until the abnormal tiredness, which results in the lack of appetite and sleep;
to cover itself before being cold, being discovered before having hot, and not fearing to expose the skin to the sun, the air, water;
to stripe food, at least in the course of road, the wine, the meat, and the tobacco
never not to force, remain in inside of its means, especially during the first hours when one is tempted to spend too much because one feels full with force;
never not to pedal by self-esteem.

Paul de Vivie was the editor during 43 years of the newspaper the Cyclist, whom it founded in 1887. Vegetarian, defender (amongst other things) of the human engine, of polymultipliée (the name of the shifting of speed at the time) it was in the full physical shape when it was reversed by a tram while leaving at his place. On its table the book was found which it read (in original text): “Letters with lucillius” of Sénèque, open on a page where one could read: “death follows me and the life escapes to me… if I leave: you can not return… in any place, the interval is short which separates the life from death. ”

Thus in Saint-Etienne, the bicycle was the most popular sport until the emergence of the ACE Saint-Etienne… although each year, a race bearing its name joins together a good thousand of cyclists, on the basis of the city to go up to the collar of large wood.

Equipment

The Vélo is of course in the center of the concerns of the touring cyclist. It must be comfortable and robust, to support the weight of the embarked material. The saddle and the position of the cyclist are particularly to look after, so that the long hours spent to pedal do not become a martyrdom. More and more of touring cyclists prefer to be equipped with bicycles lying, because of the best performances of this last, in particular in full load (its aérodynamisme is better, and its low center of gravity makes it more stable).

But the purists, conservatives, recognize themselves with their attachment with a certain type of machine tested: “hikers” in wheels of 650, light (tallies tubes steel of very high-quality: Reynolds, Vitus, Colombus are the most widespread marks), manufactured to measure, with a whole detail of equipment intended to facilitate the life on the road, by all times. Keep duralumin mud, carries satchels in light tubes of steel, hubs to the very soft bearings, leather saddle, satchel of handlebar, even broad satchels flattened for the camp-site. In spite of their appearance, such bicycles remain particularly light: 10 to 11 kg.

To increase the Payload that the cyclist will be able to tractor draw, a Remorque can be used. There are several types, of which low with only one wheel, lighter and more handy trailers.

Because its relative low speed (20 km/h on average for the trained touring cyclists), it is necessary to be announced to the other users of the borrowed ways: a fluorescent Fanion the day, supplemented by a lighting make it possible to increase the visibility of the crew suitably.

For the cyclo-camper, the choice of a Tent light and resistant or of a Hamac of camp-site is important, because it is also necessary to embark a Sac of bed and what to cook (portable Réchaud in particular and small equipment: mess tins…).

See too

French federation of bicycle touring
Cyclo-discovery
EuroVelo
Lionel Brans account of a raid with bicycle from Paris to Saigon in 1948/49.

External bonds

Technical informations on the bicycle
Québécois Association of the bicycle
List of material of the touring cyclist
tourism with bicycle, practical advices

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