Gav's French adventure

[gav24]

As some of you will know, I'm in France at the moment working on a very old house finishing the restoration work off.
Anyhow, the need to ride has taken over and I've bought a cool old DR600 from 1986.
I've tried to attach a photo of the beast at the beginning of a local ride.
To be honest I'm a bit useless at attaching photos, and any help in how to get those cool large pics in the middle of the text, rather than at the bottom as an attachment would be welcome.
Just to attempt this one has taken me ages - if it worked!...?
If someone can tell me in clear language how to get my pics from 'my pictures' folder on my computer into the text easily I'll try to start a regular set of French ride reports to ward off your winter blues in NZ.

[gav24]

It looks like it worked - Tres bon!
So just need to find out how to make em bigger...?

The photo is taken in a small town 5km away (off road;)) called St Matheu. I'm in the Sud Ouest region of france, or the Haute Vienne to be more specific, and luckily like most of rural France there is a huge network of Chemin's, which are basically 'Green Lanes' or tracks that are used by walkers, cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclist but usually by french hunters in Renault / Citroen vans closing in en masse on a Sanglier (Boar), Reynard (Fox) or Deer. In fact they are usually out in such numbers that when the hunt is on its best to keep out of the countryside all together - the culture of drinking and their technique of hunting means that people are regularly shot! In fact hunting is now illegal on wednesdays as that is the day the primary school children have off... I wonder how many accidents it took before that ban came in...:(.
Anyhow, I digress...
My most recent ride was about 60km on a local network of tracks that start from outside the church in the centre of St Matheu. Each route is colour coded by signs, and one way!:2thumbsup
So you just look at the map in the background and pick a route and off you go:banana:
The tracks can be anything from single track tarseal roads (not much), gravel tracks (some), dirt roads (mostly) and challenging single track (not much). Just about right for a DR600!
This ride was good fun as I was entirely lost for all of it, just following tracks keeping to the black circle arrows and checking that I hadnt been past this house, farm , tree etc before as the ride is circular and I could still be going round now if I didnt keep a look out!:wacko:
The ride started out on a mix of tarseal and gravel roads before taking a swerve off into a forest where most of the rest of the ride would remain, I stopped briefly by a lake for a photo then pushed on down amazing tracks which skirted fields and lakes with the occasional Chateau seeing as it was France and the cliche fits!
Nothing challenging yet but really enjoyable to soak up the scenery...
Eventually the route planners (whoever they are - but Merci bien!) decided enough of the frippery and we plunged deeper into the woods. the tracks were wet after recent thunder storms (and hail!) but had a thick covering of leaves which meant just enough traction for the front wheel to grip, but thankfully enough to spray last autumns colours about with the rear!:cool:

I'll continue with the report when my computer sorts itself out a bit - I've already lost this lot once:angry2:

Enjoy the photos - I'll try to keep posting as I find new things...

[gav24]

Trying ...to...attach...pics arrrrggghhh!:angry2:

[gav24]

Still...going....:wacko:

[Woodman]

Keep em coming Gav. Great pics.

[oneofsix]

This is a bit like the near sighted leading the blind, not great at this picture thing myself, but if you are using the Manage attachments thing under the typing pane when you have chosen the pic and uploaded them click the "insert inline" words at the bottom of the window rather than the done. The Insert inline will have the number of pics you have uploaded in brackets next to it, after you click it this number should go to zero, then you can click done to get rid of the window. In the typing pane each pic will be represented by an xml tag starting and ending with square bracketed word ATTACH. If you move these around as you type you are repositioning your pics, keep the initial square bracket and ATTACH through to the the square bracket after /ATTACH together for each pic. Hopefully I have over explained but you get it.

Good luck. Hope you can make sense of the above :crazy:

[BoristheBiter]

Great read, and personally I prefer the thumbnails.

Keep them coming.

[oneofsix]

Great read, and personally I prefer the thumbnails.

Keep them coming.

+1 enjoying the read, enjoying the scenery, prefer the thumbnails

[Night Falcon]

Nice one Gav, I hate thumbnails, but it is a bit of a hassel to get pictures on this site of the correct size to avoid the wrath of the mods.

For large photos your best to stick em here http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=65 heres how: If you start a photobucket account (no cost) you can post your pics straight to it and then cut and paste the link to the insert picture box. there is no size restriction.

[gav24]

Thanks for the help, seems to make sense, I'll try it later.
I had a huge issue with the time it took for the pics to upload. Hence only 1 or 2 thumbnails per post, any more and it took waaay to long. They are pretty big (800+k I think) so I'll try and reduce their file size and see if that helps... err how do I do that?

[manakau.KTM]

Hi Gavin

This is great. You realise that most of the kiwis reading this will turn up at your mother's place, claiming to be a mate of Gav's. This is a cultural thing that that you may not have grasped yet.

Will keep an eye on this thread.

Cheers

Wayne

[Night Falcon]

Thanks for the help, seems to make sense, I'll try it later.
I had a huge issue with the time it took for the pics to upload. Hence only 1 or 2 thumbnails per post, any more and it took waaay to long. They are pretty big (800+k I think) so I'll try and reduce their file size and see if that helps... err how do I do that?

If you have a photo editing programme you can reduce the size of your pics in there before you try an upload. If you upload to photobucket you can edit the file size in there as well. Photo software can be a bit frustrating to get ya head around if ya not used to it but it gets easier with practice. good luck

[gav24]

OK a brief try again with some more snaps of the French woods and what lies within...

As for kiwi's dropping by, Yes please! we are all a bit homesick to be honest... I have radio NZ national on during the day whilst I'm working (except its nights with Brian Crump for me!) Leanne is feeling a bit isolated with the 2 boys and they are missing their friends and kindy...

1. Luckily the signs said left here not across. 2. Getting a bit more technical now! 3. yay, thats more like it Brrraaaarp! 4. Pick a colour ..., 5. a gravel road, 6. Might need a light resto once the chooks are moved out!

[Padmei]

Great stuff gav. i want to take the wife & lil ponies over to stay a few weeks in a small town in a few years to show them some other cultures.
having the old national radio does keep you close to home tho.

[gav24]

What else to say about the end of the ride report I started a few nights ago...
Well it was all going well til about 5kms from teh end when the narrow track next to the river (in previous pics) suddenly turned sharp left and straight up the bank, about a 30 metre (metric system, sorry no yards!) rocky wet climb. It caught me out the first time and I ended up stopped and wheel spinning, then backwards and wheel spinning :argh:- We've all been there! waiting helplessly to find out where we're going next...on our sides, bums or if we're lucky still on the bike and broadside to the track. Thankfully I ended up lucky:clap:, so just wiggled around and cautiously completed the second part of my unplanned 180 and rode as slowly as I could back to the bottom, remembering the zero run up afforded by the drop into the river at the bottom:crazy:
Second time I was ready for it and gunned it up from the base like I was heading for the holeshot at Hawkestone park (If you dont know it, you tube it!) With a little bit of paddling for the last few meters I was over the top!:banana:
Once out of there it was a mix of lanes and farmyards to the beginning - All in all a great bit of riding on a monday afternoon!

In other news (pics):
My new co-pilot Tom is shaping up well for a future Dakar hero! - he's only 3 so we just stick to the off road stuff (mainly;)) He loves sitting in front and pretending to steer! As you can see I think Sam's even keener - better get those peewee's sorted when we get back!

and Pikeys new lid - (seriously!) just to raise the anticipation before the postie arrives (sadly in KTM orange for a DR rider:weep:) How does it compare to that new Arai?

How'd ya like my new porch roof!

Laters
Le Gav!

[Pikey]

Guess that must have been a steep bank if you didn't get it first run?:eek:
Can't wait for the helmet to arrive! Love my new Arai but thats cool :woohoo:
Keep up the posts.

[GPS MAN]

Hey Gav ~ looks like you and family are enjoying yourselves! Have missed you on the past couple of rides!

Take Care

Wade

[george formby]

Jealous!! I love France, quite like the French most of the time too, great taste in bikes & lurvely wimmins!.
I shall be lurking regularly.

[pampa]

Real nice Gav, keep it coming

[Pikey]

Helmet arrived today :Punk:

[gav24]

Helmet arrived today :Punk:

I'm sure with your skills in cleaning (for those that dont know Mr Pike, they are scary good!:lol:) and your contacts in the paint industry you'll have that lid looking better than new in no time.:niceone:

[gav24]

Slightly off topic, but we're off to see stage 18 of the Tour de France in a few hours. Should be cool, especially with that Belgian born to Australian Father Brad Wiggins doing his thing. May get interesting if Nibali has enough in the tank to launch an attack today he's only 2'41 down in the G.C.
(I love how Britain has claimed this guy - there was even a doco on tv last night - "Bradley Wiggins - a very British hero", errr guys...)
Not going on the bike as taking all the Whanau along...

[Pikey]

Getting more jealous by the day!

[gav24]

The Tour de France was great, probably the most entertaining was the 'caravan' that passes by an hour ahead of the riders, its huge and loads of freebies are thrown out to the crowds. Mainly key rings and lollies but we also got a polka dot hat and a yellow hat (if you watch any of the footage on TV you'll see half the crowd wearing them) which the boys loved wearing.
As for the cyclists, amazing to watch their pace on the climb where we were, I know most were in the peleton but even with that advantage they flew by at an unbelievable pace.

In the photo attached of the peleton you can see the smile on Bradley Wiggins face - this was the last climb of the Tour where he could be challenged so he knew it was in the bag after this stage.

Did you see the time trial yesterday? He was about 2% faster than the guy in second - after 3000km of cycling! Wow!:clap::first:

Yesterday we took in a French institution called a Vide Grenier (translation - Empty your attic). I think we have become a little addicted to these now... They are basically a car boot sale except its french crap for sale - sorry 'treasure' not crap!:msn-wink:
I found some awesome old Enduro boots and a great book which covers the 1988 Paris Dakar rallye. All in French but the pictures are fantastic, and its bike focussed as well.

Once I finish tiling the bathroom, I've promised myself another bike ride so hopefully some more pics of the french countyside to come...

Au Revoir!

[Underground]

awesome Gav, love to get over there sometime.
Any good pics of the Africa Twins in that book?

[gav24]

Any good pics of the Africa Twins in that book?

A few, Orioli won that year on one. No decent close ups, but a cool ad for the 1988 AT.
I didnt realise that Honda came third in the first Dakar Rally in 1978, with an XL250!
I had to go and check that when I first read it, but my other 'treasure' find, a book called 'La Moto' which has race results in up to 1987 when it came out, confirms it.
Go the mighty XL250!:headbang:

[Pikey]

Very cool ineed!
Let me know if you find me any more treasure!?

[gav24]

Been pretty busy working recently, so not too much riding - really bloody hot anyway (High 30's and humid)- My current adv riding gear is helmet, gloves, summer shirt, swim shorts and walking boots, with a towel on the rear rack. I have found a great 25 minute off road route to the local swimming lake, hence the entirely unsuitable riding gear!
Been looking online for a helmet cam so hopefully some video soon... maybe...France is very closed in August. It appears to be pretty shut most of the time, but August is definately Ferme!

In the meantime been cruising around www.leboncoin.fr and found this bad-boy for starters.... Should be just the job for the DB1K.
http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/355071832.htm?ca=14_s

or maybe this for starting bucket racing
http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/354141760.htm?ca=14_s

or this
http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/350128735.htm?ca=14_s

Spend an hour on that site and see what else you find...:drool:

[gav24]

Ooh Ooh!
Lookathisone!
http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/352003202.htm?ca=14_s

[gav24]

And these!
Man this site is addictive!
http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/342737791.htm?ca=14_s
http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/338620831.htm?ca=14_s

[Night Falcon]

And these!
Man this site is addictive!
http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/342737791.htm?ca=14_s
http://www.leboncoin.fr/motos/338620831.htm?ca=14_s

690 RR $25,880.00 NZ

450 RR $22,835.00 NZ

out of my price range but a bargin for some of you rich dudes :(

[gav24]

Hi all,
Thought I'd dredge this one up again as we leave France and head back to New Zealand on tuesday - yay!
To be honest not much bike related stuff since the summer...
A planned ride to the classic Bol'dor was rained off - :weep:
And I after a summer spent not working as much as I should have really (well you saw the trail network on the doorstep!) I really had to put the hammer down (literally and figuratively) to get the house finished in time.
I think I got it all done in the end, but like most renovations / restorations you could just keep going...
Managed to sell both the old TS250 (to a local plasterer) and the (frankly brilliant) DR600 to a local plumber, so a bonus there.
I know I've posted this before but that old DR was a brilliant bike - better spec than the newer DR650 as standard - bash guard, big tank, rear rack and bag, and the suspension seems better with more travel... With a pipe on it would be fantastic as like the DR650 as std it is very strangled.
Anyway - its gone now....:weep:

During a recent trip back to the UK to see family and friends all I could find that was on was the bike show at the NEC in Birmingham, Last time I went was probably over 10 years ago, so it was good to bump into a few old friends from my previous life as a road racer, but the biggest thing I noticed was the type of bikes on display - particularly the HUGE amount of Adventure bike stuff! - I reckon half the show was ADV bike related.

Not quite what I would call Adventure riding though as not many of the bikes looked particularly suited to a trip up Odlins road or Makairo crossing... Maybe a bit of gravel and thats about it. Noticed that despite the increase in ADV bikes suzuki still dont officially import the DR650 so I guess that says it all really.

Not that its surprising as most of the UK was under water anyway - and even when dry 99% of their green lane network is now closed to anything other than walkers, with any remaining sections only a few kms long, like 6 or 7 max!

Anyway - its a huge new market for the bike and accessory manufacturers and the very obvious rebranding and repackaging of 'touring' for the fireblade / R1 generation...

As it was the bike show I simply had to spend some money, (after the $20 parking and $40 entrance fee!!!:pinch:) so I got some kevlar reinforced jeans, a waterproof jacket and a pinlock insert kit for my arai.:2thumbsup

So as we prepare to leave, what have I learnt about France.....
First:-
If its not August, its closed.... Ferme!
If its a weekend, or monday, its closed...Ferme!
If its between 12 and 3, its closed...Ferme!
If the website says its open, its closed...Ferme!
Then:-
If you are a man you can piss where you like, anywhere!
If you are a dog you can poo where you like, everywhere!
If you drive a 'camion' or truck, you can stop and block roads whenever and wherever you like, even if you are just getting a coffee!
If you think you have done all the paperwork...you havent!

Seriously though, its been a great experience, and a much bigger culture shock than we expected. Its been great spending time with the kids and being my own boss as well! And to top it all off I even got some good riding in as well:2thumbsup

[Pikey]

Sounds like it's been an experience to remember??
See you when you get back mate! Lot's of sunshine awaits! (and your new race bike project!!)