Aix is a tricky city to drive in. The trademark French winding cobbled streets and semi-pedestrianised alleyways which turn into markets three days a week can't be an easy thing to steer a ton of metal down, even on a lazy wednesday. So it's not surprising that there are a lot of bikers here- and before they all go into hibernation for winter (which, oddly, has not happened yet. It's mid-November) I thought I'd give them a little showcase
As well as the beautiful tourers and big macho bikes are the little girly scooters that whizz around Europe whatever country you happen to pick. If anything these seem more appropriate here for inner-city driving, as usually bikers (scooterers?) are going at near-walking pace to weave in and out of pedestrians and nip in front of the white vans and lorries which still seem to manage to negotiate Aix's streets.
But what's really got me interested are these little things- at about waist-height, they look like electric bikes or baby motorbikes, and are pretty popular around here. Most are 50cc but this one claims to be 125cc, and must go like greased lightning when it gets the chance. Being so light on their own they can really get a move on until they reach a top speed of about 60mph, which to be fair is as much as I could get my Honda CG to do back home.
A friend who lived here when she was younger once pointed out a bent 'no cycles' sign, some ten feet off the ground, bent almost in half because her dad had nicked it with the edge of his delivery lorry. A decade ago.
So with this kind of inner-city driving, you're unlikely to reach break-neck speeds, so it's a common sight to see these little bikes bumbling along with one or more passengers, with optional bags of shopping and safety gear slowing the wee thing down a bit.
They are quite cute, though, pretty much stocking-sized. I might put one on my Christmas list.
And look! Pink!
Now the whole family can have one!
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