At one point in my career I was head bean counter in a manufacturing organisation and we always took forward exchange contracts for our inventory imports to give us some certainty over our future costs. Sometimes we were in front other times we were not.
You did the same and lost a bit. No big deal.
You will still have all your well documented memories long after a new motor car has been towed to the wreckers!
Carry on with spending the kids inheritance!
Mike

Really enjoyed the journal. I largely agree with your best/worst evaluations. The Le Havre bridge was every as bit as bad as you write. And to add insult, we did it in the rain. Mrs. C. says it was particularly difficut because the Tourist Info in LeH gave no help in finding the bridge (much less warning us off it). Also agree about the Canal du Midi -- great until you hit the unpaved portions and then impossible without mountain bikes (and perhaps not even fun then). Thanks for the warnings about Lyon. We expect to do the Via Rhone this summer.

This is where having made friends in Europe that can be imposed on comes in handy. It's a little tricky, because not everyone has the space . This time, the Paxman's will ride the bikes to our friend Bernie, who lives near Bregenz. The enticement is that he and his wife could do some rides until we get back. The Paxman's are really helping in this too, because they will have to take a train from Bregenz back to Amsterdam. Next year we will start at Bregenz and probably finish at Leipzig - more friends!

Another option is to store just the batteries and to take the bikes home. Some friends, or even bike shops, may have space for a battery if not a bike.

Finally, one could put bikes or just batteries into a storage locker. We rather like the Shurgard company, for their clear web site and locations around Europe: https://www.shurgard.fr/

Hi Steve and Dodie,

We've enjoyed reading your detailed journal, and as senior Bike Friday tourers are very interested in your comparison of ebikes with BFs. Our impression is that whether a bike has e-assist or not is far less significant than being able to enjoy all of the benefits of exploring countryside on a bicycle. Just wondering where you are planning to store the ebikes for the winter after your friends finish using them.

Eva

Yes, and there is another aspect to the weight, a little more subtle than just the pain of lifting. I've said that when you take the heavy ebike and activate the assist it turns in practice into a lighter bike. While that is true, it still does not convey the joy of an actual light bike. I think a good analogy is when in Winter you feel cold, you can put on a coat. So then you feel warm. And if you put on a thicker coat, you can feel downright hot. But it will never be quite the same as actually sitting on the beach on a hot Summer's day with no coat.

On the other hand, cycle touring is never about the joy of a true light bike, because no matter what the bike it always needs a ton of gear on it.

Let's see, what can I say about this:
(a) I did get it right once in 5 tries, not too bad?
(b) Maybe my QWERTY keyboard does not like ell's?
(c) I will trade you Blaye for "La clef"
(d) I'm glad someone is still reading this blog!
(e) Languishing now in Cobble Hill, it was great to have a reason to revisit the Bordeaux area!
(f) OK, I fixed it (them)

Hi Steve,

Umm, I think the town is called Blaye not Braye. Unless you've developed a strange accent......

Cheers,
Keith

Steve

A great dissertation that even Gunton could understand!
Suzanne's comment about the weight of the beasts is the one disadvantage that I can see.

Mike

And one more comment - as to the disadvantages: I don't find that charging the battery at night is a particular disadvantage. What you didn't mention is the weight. If taking trains or are in any situation where steps are involved, those are very heavy bicycles to lift.

I see no way to edit comments - so anyway just wanted to correct my spelling :) deteriorate

Hi Steve,
I like the way you summed it up. I am all too familiar with the comment "Oh, but you ride an e-bike," meaning we are sitting there doing nothing, or at least that there is no effort involved, so no big deal if we are still touring. Or they think our health will detiorate since we aren't getting a real workout. Actually, I think low level exercise (at my age anyway) builds up more strength than when I work out hard. Same goes for my husband (who will turn 80 in a few days).
So thanks for your contribution to the enlightenment of the general public on e-bikes!
Suzanne

Ardell, you are one of our heroes. As is well known, you are Queen of the Road Angels. It is fun to re-read the day you earned your title, February 16, 2014!:

https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/grampiesouth/day-43-eunice-to-oberlin-ardell-queen-of-the-road-angels/

Hello from Texas...Thank you once again for writing such an educational and entertaining blog. I always enjoy the Grampies!! Sending sympathy for Dodie and the knee situation. Headed out myself in a couple of days with my ebike for two weeks of trail riding in Iowa and Wisconsin with a group I have traveled with before. You guys are inspiring and my heroes😊

Any bears would be behind the house, because there is too much VW traffic in front. The likelihood of bears is reduced because as you can see in the photo, the trees are mostly gone from behind. A Dutch farmer bought the land, cleared the forest, and filled the area with cows or hay. There is only a limited wild area here any more, along a creek that runs from our farm to the beach at Cherry Point. But that creek is just a narrow corridor though more farmland. You can see the corridor if you look at our place on Google Maps with satellite view.

Stay tuned for more on e-bikes in this blog, coming today or tomorrow.



Dodie's knee is a tiny bit better this morning, with the ibuprofen. The drug has a hard time working because, strangely for a nurse, she does not believe in it.

No bear ?

Best wishes for Dodie left and right knees.

Very interesting articles on e-bikes. I understood from Franz H that he is writing technical articles for a northern e-bike manufacturer on a yearly basis. Franz is also stuck home by now ...