Cycling in Essonne and Yvelines
It’s the season of back to biking. The road running race season is over, and summer has arrived. My other half has urged me to dust off my newish Liv bike. I bought it in September 2016, but I could count the times I’ve ridden it on one hand.
The forecast called for a cool mid-20s Celsius today, a relief after the mid-30s heatwave earlier in the week. So, we decided to cycle a 43 km round through the departments of Essonne and Yvelines. I also wanted to use the ride to try out my first proper cycling outfit. It’s Castelli, an Italian brand with a scorpion logo!
Fear of Descents
My irrational fear of steep descents (“steep” is relative, of course) is my greatest handicap. Instead of leveraging gravity and savouring the adrenaline rush on downhills, I usually get highly stressed. My bike “flies” (again, that’s relative) down the slope. As a result, my fingers grip the brakes so hard that the pads wear out unnecessarily. Myriad images cross my mind as I descend. I picture myself flying off my bike, hitting the road, and getting hit by oncoming cars. In addition, I’m still not comfortable on my road bike. The thin tyres, the bent handlebars, and my difficulty gripping the brakes all add to my unease. Perhaps it’s because my hands are small.
Tour of Châteaux on Bike
Despite my paranoia, I have enjoyed my ride out — a needed break from running. In fact, it was a great day to get back on the bike. There was a great expanse of clear blue sky, scattered with puffy cotton clouds. Strong gusts of wind kicked up at times. We passed by some châteaux — Château de Breteuil and Château de la Cour Senlisse. Like a tourist, I took some snaps.
A light Mediterranean meal: Assiette Canapé of aubergine caviar, tarama, tapenade, and Poivrons marinés.
The ride ended with an enjoyable alfresco lunch at Gif-sur-Yvette, a neighbouring commune.
Oh, and today is the annual “foire,” or fair, in Orsay. It’s the second one since I moved here almost a year and a half ago. Vendors selling knickknacks fill the street my apartment sits on.
