Electric bike tour

Sounded kind of interesting. Take a bike and put an electric motor on it that helps when you pedal, cruise around a foreign country in the middle of traffic. Cool. All you need is balance, a third eye in the back of your head, fast-healing elbows, knees, chin; strong bones that resist impact with steel or concrete, ability to shift gears, change motor speed and watch pedestrians and cars crossing against the light. All this while looking at sites the guide 6 bike lengths in front of you is whispering about! What a deal at 70EU each!

Well it is easier than it sounds and the guide, Etienne (pronounced, “A Tee N”), was great. Very knowledgeable of Lyon and the rich history this city, as well as recent events and accomplishments in the area.

Explaining to Etienne that it wasn’t Collette’s fault that she hit the car

Will you look at those……flowers!

We boarded our electro-bikes and after a brief training session took turns running into the building. It seems that the electric motor starts after 1 full revolution of the pedals which always seemed to be 1′ from the wall or the person in front of you. I know, you’re all thinking that after Malta and Collette’s Segway experience, how could you sign her up for another uncontrollable tour. Well I’m here to tell you, she did just fine. She adapted to the motor quickly and remembered how to balance a bike faster than you would think. Off in a heartbeat and never looking back. That’s my girl!

Now to fully understand the dangers involved. Imagine you’re on an electric powered bicycle in the middle of rush hour traffic with several hundred people dodging in and out of the road. Well, it’s just like that! Nothing could be easier.

Cemetery with no one famous buried there

Etienne explaining that we cannot hit any more cars

So off we go. Our tour covers a great deal of the city center and La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere. Known as the, “praying hill” where in the middle ages (~1192) a church was erected in honor of the Virgin Mary. Etienne was an great guide with tons of information about all the sites. We toured the river areas, both Rhone and Saone and the 2nd district located between the confluence of these rivers. Our tour also included the largest park in Lyon, Parc de la Tete d’Or, 117 hectares (or 290 acres) that includes a zoo, botanical gardens, lake and an unusual statue dedicated to the G7 Conference held in Lyon 1996. President Clinton attended while the towns women were sent to Bordeaux. The statue is rather unique in that it has 7 naked men (Bill’s idea, I’m sure) moving the Earth with a beam. The Earth only has 7 nations represented????? Well, I’m sure it means something to someone.

Mid-tour we stopped at a small wine bar for a sampling of cheeses and meats with a glass of red or white wine. The shop was no bigger than an over-sized closet and very intimate which made the experience that much better. Collette enjoyed a dry, white wine, while I had a very nice red. The meat and cheese tray had three types of meats and cheeses, all of which went well with either wine selection.

Wine, cheese, meat and new friends. Etienne, our tour guide, is at the end in orange.

Afterwards we walked through “old town” and through one of the “Les Traboules” or secret passageways that were used back in early times to shorten the walk of traders. Many of these passageways have been turned into shops and blocked off, but the one we explored was still used and had several apartments built into the structure.

A traboule

Courtyard in the center of the traboules.

Vents in the stairway for the basement where food was stored in the 1800s.

Walked off the wine and food, now to pedal to the top of the hill and see La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere. This church is quite a spectacle. Built from 1872 to 1884, the church now occupies the site where an ancient Roman forum stood. Built with private funds that ran out before completing the project, the church is partially finished on the outside. However, the inside is unbelievable. We thought St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Malta was a little over the top, it is nothing compared to La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere. Carvings, engravings, glass, gold, statues, you name it, it’s here. Apparently most of the money was spent on the inside but that doesn’t mean the outside is less elaborate.

The church hosts four towers, each representing a virtue of man. One is strength, one is justice and the other two weren’t finished so we’ll stop at two virtues of man. Nicknamed “the upside-down elephant” by locals, the church is rather large with the towers resembling the legs of an elephant on it’s back. The location is incredible. From this hilltop all of Lyon can be seen as well as the Alps and Mont Blanc which rises 15,800′ above sea level. Excellent views and a moment to straighten the handlebars before heading down the hill.

Depiction of Adam and Eve and kids??? From the look on Adams face, it says, “we’ll never be able to retire!

Mont Blanc in the background

Made it back to the rental kiosk with no more injuries and called it a day. An electric motor on a bike is a great idea. It provides just enough assistance to get you up those steep hills and lets you cruise with little effort. May have to think about getting one of these for our trips to the Park Bar on Saturdays. Saves a lot of gas. If it only had cruise control…….