Day 71: Montbeliard to Montreux- Chateau

April 29, 2025

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A bike shop along the way yesterday could not help with my no longer functioning rear brake, but they suggested a shop that might do it. Last night I made a track from the hotel to that shop, but it was clear that to go there we would need to backtrack 7 km along EV6, and then come 7 km back, before starting our day's ride. And at that, we would have no advance idea as to whether the shop could or would look at the bike. So the initial decision was to forget it. After all, my front brake was still (somewhat) working. On the other hand, while it might be flat here, hills are coming!

In the morning, with a warm sun shining, the extra 14 km did not seem like much, even if the project might be futile, so off we went.

We had wanted to arrive at 9:00 a.m. opening time, but our hesitation put us at the door at 9:30. No matter, the sign in the window said fermé!

But like with route barrée, we did not automatically take no for an answer. And yes, they were open! I reversed the sign in the window for them!

To our surprise, they also said they could and would do something with the brakes, now!

We happily turned over the bike, and set about looking at all the wonders and treasures in the shop. These included quite a few items that I begged for, and that Dodie was able to deflect. For example:

A 2000 lumen bike light. I was all for blasting the cars off the highway with this, but Dodie thought they would do better not blinded.

Vaude handlebar bag, with zipper closure. The zipper seemed like too slow a system for whipping out a camera.

Another nice handlebar bag. All of these use the same Rixon-Kaul mount as our Ortlieb ones.

I liked the colour coordinated fenders on this bike.

But the company (Cube and/or Moustache) was using this hard to work with V shaped bar.

Lifting this bike easily over my head and walking around the store, I proposed it as a solution to stairs in railway stations. Idea shot down, right from over my head!

Our helmets are getting chipped and worn.

This model from Specialized was a perfect fit. But 90 euros!

My souvenir socks from Valencia tend to get stinky. These Merino ones would be better. Maybe when we get home, says Dodie.

After an hour and a half of looking at stuff while assiduously not bugging the mechanics, we went to check. We found the mechanic standing by the bike, having repeatedly purged the fluid, and now neither side was working! OMG!

We raised the possibility of putting in Shimano levers, but the man said they would not fit the Magura hoses. We took him to see that this could be done, by showing them already on Dodie's bike, and he said he would try.

Only thing, they did not have the Shimano levers, except in 100 euro complete brake kits.

Searching high (and low) for parts that will work.

Since the only other option to buying the complete Shimano brakes and discarding half the kits seemed to be to buy a nice Moustache bike, for 3000 euros, I chose the "cheap" option.

Tapping this report on my phone, now coming up to 3 hours since we arrived here, I just came from bugging the mechanic. A little progress is being made, since the levers are in, but the brakes are not necessarily braking!

The mechanic showed me that my old Magura lever had quite wide bore plumbing, while the Shimano fitting were very small. The Shimano kit was definitely for disc brakes. Perhaps those disc cylinders use generally less fluid or fluid flow?

They decided to just try to make the levers work, somehow.

Dodie was starting to lean toward the new bike! Again, by the time you read this the outcome will be known. But for me right now, tension mounts!

Ok, by adjusting the levers for a really large amount of travel, the mechanic was able to get enough braking force. My little fingers were just able to reach out and grab the levers. It had taken four hours to get this far! The mechanic's last words to me on ushering us out the door: Soyez prudent!

As we knew we would have to, we took to the bikeway and returned to close to our last night's hotel. Then we blasted onto the Rhine to Rhone canal path and headed for our next stay, at Montreux- Chateau. At least canals, built for efficiency, do not wiggle the way rivers do!

We thought we would snag a Corn Bunting for Scott, but only came up with the even more common House Sparrow.

We were really impressed by the bright yellow of the rapeseed fields, now around us everywhere.

And now, though Gray Herons are still very much in evidence, Storks are beginning to take over as the most common large bird to be seen.

From the window of our Chambre d'Hotes in Montreux- Chateau, we can watch a pair of storks on their nest.

At breakfast this morning, the baguette was joined by a really flavourful dark German bread. And on the bikeway, guide signs are turning up in French and German both. These are signs that we are near Switzerland and Germany. In fact when we hit Mulhouse tomorrow, we will be fewer than 30 km away. For better or worse, Germany, the final country for this tour is quickly approaching. But we won't jump into Germany until we run up through wonderful Alsace. Coming soon!

Today's ride: 37 km (23 miles)
Total: 2,314 km (1,437 miles)

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Kelly IniguezWorking brakes are a nice amenity!
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1 day ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Kelly IniguezNo kidding!
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1 day ago