Gav's French adventure

**Pikey** · 15th July 2012, 10:16

Guess that must have been a steep bank if you didn't get it first run?

Can't wait for the helmet to arrive! Love my new Arai but thats cool

Keep up the posts.

**GPS MAN** · 15th July 2012, 11:57

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

Take Care

Wade

**george formby** · 15th July 2012, 12:25

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** · 17th July 2012, 21:32

Real nice Gav, keep it coming

**Pikey** · 17th July 2012, 21:42

Helmet arrived today

**gav24** · 18th July 2012, 17:06

Originally Posted by Pikey

Helmet arrived today

I'm sure with your skills in cleaning (for those that dont know Mr Pike, they are scary good!

) and your contacts in the paint industry you'll have that lid looking better than new in no time.

**gav24** · 20th July 2012, 17:36

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** · 20th July 2012, 18:58

Getting more jealous by the day!

**gav24** · 22nd July 2012, 17:25

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!

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!

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** · 23rd July 2012, 12:01

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

**gav24** · 23rd July 2012, 17:41

Originally Posted by Underground

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!

**Pikey** · 23rd July 2012, 19:55

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

**gav24** · 16th August 2012, 06:45

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...