In Which David does the Hard Work Necessary to Get In Shape for the Annual Bike Trip

Thanks to covid and various other issues, this looks like the first year that the four of us (Roger, Gerard, Tom, David) will actually be able to our 4-5 day bike trip in a part of France.  This year, as previously mentioned, the group are looking at taking their bikes on the train to Geneva and then heading for Lac de Bourget to ride around that lake and the lake at Annecy, before taking the train back to Lyon.

David and Bike On the Sidewalk Outside Our Apartment

For David, this means doing a bit of practice riding around the Lyon area as he does little to no biking at home.  For him, biking is a means to see other parts of France, hang out with friends, and get some exercise.  Typically, he does 3-4 30-40km rides per week, mostly alone, but sometimes with others.  There are a lot of paved and smooth dirt bike paths in the area, so it is not difficult to accomplish this goal -outside of actually motivating oneself.

Usually, the practice rides are around a lake in a huge park at Miribel-Jonage, or up and down the Rhone or the Saone rivers.  All of these have excellent bike paths and lots of scenery.  Sometimes when David goes with a group, they will stop somewhere for a sack-lunch or stop at a restaurant.

Recently, most of the practice rides have been at Miribel-Jonage along a canal and out to an artificial lake that has become a mecca for competitive rowers, families picnicking, and people out fishing. 

David in Back With Group of Happy Bikers Near Lyon

One recent trip involved starting in Lyon going out to Miribel-Jonage and then up the hill to a plateau area where the group rode along country roads, past an old monastery, now called Domaine Boiron, before stopping for lunch at a picnic ground by a small lake.  Domaine Boiron is now used as a convention and meeting center for groups, and sits on spacious grounds in the countryside.

Domain Boiron

From there, the group rode through more scenic countryside, before heading for the town of Villars-les-Dombes and catching a train back to Lyon.  For the day the group did about 60km and saw a number of scenic areas.

David's Bike with David in Background at Lunch Stop

The interesting thing about the train trip – about 22 miles on the train - it made 4 or 5 stops, and still took only about 35 minutes.  Compare that to light rail from Sea-Tac to downtown Seattle that covers about 15 miles and, in our experience, takes a bit over an hour!  If we want people to use public transportation, we’re going to have to be a LOT more efficient at moving people from point to point.  [Sound Transit’s website advertises the trip at 38 minutes!?]