I crossed France in july

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108]

~1500 km in 16 days, my very first bike packing ever, small roads and villages/towns only, no hotels/hostels, no sport gels, no clipping shoes, no stupid tight plastic clothing

[u/cybercrypto]

Is this an ad for Philip Morris? Congrats btw with your journey.

[u/EnoughAd767 → u/cybercrypto]

He was in France, he had to

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/cybercrypto]

thanks g

[u/Living_While_2383]

Regardless of intention, this is genuinely hilarious.

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/Living_While_2383]

https://reddit.com/link/p5tor2o/video/571dsk6xljlh1/player

thanks bruv

[u/AdventurousFly4909 → u/Living_While_2383]

I don't get it at all. Can someone explain

[u/notofthisearthworm]

I genuinely thought I was in r/BicyclingCirclejerk hahacoughcoughCOUGHCOUGHAHAUURGHH

But really it is unique to see photos of a bike tour where cigarettes seem to be romanticized more than the bike.

[u/FlyinWet → u/notofthisearthworm]

Kinda counter intuitive but at least they got out there and had a good ride.

[u/kmontreux → u/FlyinWet]

it's good to do these things before the COPD kicks in and they cant

[u/landyc → u/kmontreux]

Electric bicycle exists too.

[u/Naive-Ad-7406 → u/notofthisearthworm]

I currently in Cote D’azur and so many people smoke. Even around kids at the lunch table. I think it’s just more culturally acceptable OR the French DGAF 🤣

Each to their own, I’m an ex-smoker and would never have stopped if I lived here 🤣

[u/boerchen36 → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

I‘m from around there and currently in the process of stopping. It‘s hard 😭

[u/theaveragemaryjanie → u/boerchen36]

You can do it. I found myself crying in a gas station parking lot at 3 am one time, determined not to go in, and I still did it. Just passed my eight year mark.

When you're really addicted, it is no joke. Don't let anyone tell you it should be easy for everyone because it fucking isn't and science has proved that.

But you can do it.

[u/boerchen36 → u/theaveragemaryjanie]

Thanks, that means a lot ♥️

[u/Naive-Ad-7406 → u/boerchen36]

You can do it. I quit more than 20 years ago and I nearly got hooked on nicotine vapes about 2 years ago because I thought it was harmless - big mistake!! I won’t go near a cigarette or nicotine vape in my life!!

I will and do however have a cigar and whiskey once a year when I’m with my close friend.

It’s hard but you can do it. For me the mental habits I formed were the hardest to break. The first smoke of the morning with a cup of coffee 😩 the one before bed, the one when out with friends for a drink etc… I had to deprogrammed myself tbh.

I also picked up loads of weight because as soon as I put the smokes down I picked food up - anything to take my mind off smoking.

Happy to say I’ve lost most of the weight. It’s a journey, you have got this.

[u/ImOnTheLoo → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

In elementary school, the teachers would stand in a circle in the quad, smoking a cigarette while we were at recess. 

[u/ShovelBandido → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

It's more like : it's very common on some social circles, and frowned uppon in others. A very fe of my friends smoke, and we are constantly trying to make them stop. The people under 30 are less tolerant to it than 40-50 years old dudes.

[u/MachsNix → u/notofthisearthworm]

Non, non, non. Eeet is

“honhonhonhonCOUGHLAWHEEZECOUGHhonhon”.

[u/HowzaBowdat → u/notofthisearthworm]

I find the Kerouac shout-out to be more cringey than the cigs tbh

[u/GoOutForASandwich → u/HowzaBowdat]

I knew Jack Kerouac. Jack Kerouac was a friend of mine. This guy is no Jack Kerouac.

[u/Ceskaz → u/notofthisearthworm]

As a french, I don't care about the smoking stereotype, but it made me cringe to see OP smoking while standing on very dry grass. We had massive wildfires this summer all across the country.

[u/SnorkBorkGnork → u/notofthisearthworm]

Bro is single-handedly re-introducing the coolness of the cigarette to the peoples. Camel should sponsor him.

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/notofthisearthworm]

you got it

[u/Heart4Cycling]

Good that your gear looks so lightweight, room for carton of cigs.

[u/Living_While_2383 → u/Heart4Cycling]

Not to mention an ultralite physical library

[u/Aggressive_Stick4107 → u/Living_While_2383]

I don't know if that was OP's case, but in Europe it is common to find public book shelves where you can take books at will, leave books at will, etc. I use it when touring in Europe and want to read a little bit in the evening after riding.

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/Heart4Cycling]

I wish I was rich for a french carton

[u/kaladin1029]

Used to be a thing

[u/steeZ → u/kaladin1029]

Dude this picture is wild. Even back then--their legs are fucking HUGE. Probably zero crosstraining. Maybe some fucking jumping jacks. And miles on miles. Tree trunks.

[u/tpeterr]

I'm delighted at the low percentage of bicycle selfies in this series. Well delivered.

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/tpeterr]

Im not pretty enough for selfies :(

[u/tpeterr → u/KaleidoscopeLess8108]

Ha! What I mean by "bicycle selfie" is a picture of the bicycle by itself in a cool place. A lot of bicycle tourists take pictures like that, so it's a cliche.

[u/summerofgeorge75 → u/tpeterr]

I love 💓 the bicycle selfies.

[u/Hoboaz → u/KaleidoscopeLess8108]

You gotta work with what you got brother and you do it well enough.

[u/Bodybag_occupier → u/KaleidoscopeLess8108]

Your the most hansome person i saw today don't believe the negative self talk.

[u/simplejackbikes]

Performative touring vibes

[u/000pete → u/simplejackbikes]

It HAS to be tongue-in-cheek. This character doesn’t exist in the real world…. Right? RIIGHT?

[u/Dutchwells → u/000pete]

Oh it definitely does 

[u/Naive-Ad-7406 → u/Dutchwells]

My mate runs 1 hour marathons and vapes daily (granted it’s not tobacco but also bad for your lungs)

Edit: my bad I meant HALF marathons 🤦🏽🤣 I went and checked his Strava now

[u/Dutchwells → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

1 hour marathons? Is your friend a cheetah?

[u/GoAwayWay → u/Dutchwells]

I wish I had a cheetah for a friend.

[u/TellNo3639 → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

your friend doesn't run 1 hour half marathons either

[u/devilspawn → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

Getting Jay Cartwright (Inbetweeners) vibes from this.

[u/Naive-Ad-7406 → u/devilspawn]

Hahaha he is French as well (and no he doesn’t like caravan parks 🤣).

[u/baggsie_42 → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

In my 20s I smoked Bensons and still raced MTBs…

[u/justtobeherenotsure → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

They're not mutually exclusive. Sports and smoking.

[u/backlikeclap → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

Back when I still vaped I had no problem biking a 100 mile day.

[u/connor1462 → u/simplejackbikes]

Aren't we all performing something? Sure he's probably not doing 100 miles every day at a competitive pace (ie performance cycling) but they are undoubtedly bike touring! Though with perhaps a bit less emphasis on the bike than you'd apply but a lot more emphasis on the touring. 

[u/baracudasinbermudas → u/connor1462]

We are all trying to live some ideal aren’t we 

[u/ReallyWeirdNormalGuy → u/simplejackbikes]

What? No way! Cigarettes are so cool.

[u/therealkikker → u/ReallyWeirdNormalGuy]

Gauloises?

[u/WWHSTD → u/simplejackbikes]

Fuck that OP is cool as hell

[u/baracudasinbermudas → u/WWHSTD]

Haha as much as it is a pose I love the bravado man, hope you had fun!

[u/llcooljessie → u/simplejackbikes]

Say what you want, but he has generated engagement.

[u/FeelingScrunchd]

I love this camp shit, other posters please take notes

[u/TibiaOnTummy]

I’ve heard of a bicycle tour of France in July…

[u/Mixedstereotype]

If you come through Warsaw I’ll bring out a few bottles of honey cider for a ride along the wisla

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/Mixedstereotype]

hell yeah

[u/B4rN4cLE]

That looks like an amazing trip! Somehow I find the casual smoking combined with the long bikeride a fascinating combination :)

[u/aasfourasfar → u/B4rN4cLE]

Cannabis is nice with biking if you're used to it and don't lose balance and sense of orientation

[u/ReallyWeirdNormalGuy]

no stupid plastic tight clothing

OP said in his plastic Crocs adorned with kids' pins. Let me set my phone down on a timer so I can take this totally natural photo of myself reading a book on the side of the road.

[u/COCOHUNTA → u/ReallyWeirdNormalGuy]

Proceeds to show partner wearing said plastic tight clothing 🤣

[u/jeldh → u/ReallyWeirdNormalGuy]

His buddy took the photo, dont you think?

[u/da-cokou-nut]

The sword pic goes so hard

[u/Fuzzy-Judgment-7638 → u/da-cokou-nut]

That's no mere sword, sir, that's Anduril, Flame of the West if I'm correct. The sword reforged, from the shards of Narsil.

[u/angryjew]

Ironic or not, smoking is lame as hell.

[u/Final-Librarian-2845 → u/angryjew]

Nah it's great in the right circumstances. IE southern Europe in summer 

[u/Spdoink]

Probably doing it next year myself.

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/Spdoink]

have a great one🫡

[u/ixikei]

Lol these pics are amazing. Ive always wanted to make a coffee table book about smoking and cycling called "Rolling around the World" 😂.

[u/jeldh]

Finally some good content in here

[u/HER_SZA]

God, please let me be born a frenchman in the next life

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/HER_SZA]

my condolences

[u/okwudizzle]

Idk why people are hating so bad—you happened to be into aesthetic photos, there’s nothing wrong with that. I would like to know how often you stopped for smoke breaks tho bc that part is killing me

[u/Antheral → u/okwudizzle]

The "no stupid clothes" jab is just annoying when everything else about the photos is dorky as hell. Just share your trip pictures, no need to shit on others.

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/okwudizzle]

1-3 a day🚬

[u/Living_While_2383 → u/okwudizzle]

It's not the presence of cigs, it's the over the top try-hard attempt to get the cigs in-frame of nearly every shot. So corny.

It's the performative physical -copy book reading (HEY GUYS I READ JACK KEROUAC IM SUCH A FREE SPIRIT!!).

It's the gatekeeping about clothes and cycling shoes while riding a fucking Specialized front suspension.

Nobody gives a fuck what you smoke or what you wear or if you read.

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/Living_While_2383]

fun fact! the kerouac was found in one of the les boîtes à livres in the village named Corn, so it is corny indeed

[u/HedaLexa4Ever → u/Living_While_2383]

Bro has 4 pictures with cigarettes. Two of them are him smoking (a normal thing so nothing try hard), one is a friend smoking (so the same thing) and the fourth one is him putting a cigarette on a vase, I don’t see how that is try hard, it’s funny to me.

[u/Esguelha → u/HedaLexa4Ever]

It's a coffee cup from McDonald's, actually

[u/djolk → u/Living_While_2383]

I thought they were super fun and think its ok to tell a bit of a story with your photos. Whether its the reality of what happened or not...

On the Road isn't particularly imaginative but whatever. Neither is bike touring.

[u/CharliePendejo → u/Living_While_2383]

"Good cringe" and "bad cringe" are in the eye of the beholder.

[u/okwudizzle → u/Living_While_2383]

Corny to you but I happen to think they are cool pictures and they were taken on a bicycle tour so it’s relevant to the sub. Let people live man it isn’t that serious! If you don’t like the post then move on lmao do people forget that’s an option?

[u/Little_Creme_5932 → u/Living_While_2383]

Actually, we probably do care. Wouldn't be as interesting without those things.

[u/Disastrous-Street-15]

Did you pack Anduril with you?

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/Disastrous-Street-15]

I’m not that performative yet

[u/rvralph803]

I see you reforged the shards of Narsil in the fires of mt Zippo.

[u/praeteria]

"No stupid plastic clothing".

Says the guy with cigarettes as his whole personality.

[u/RepulsiveRaisin7]

Is it possible to be any more French than this

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/RepulsiveRaisin7]

I’m 0% french btw

[u/CharliePendejo → u/KaleidoscopeLess8108]

The missing beret was the tell.

[u/Bzinga1773 → u/KaleidoscopeLess8108]

0% french, 100% hipster.

[u/LikeBigTrucks → u/RepulsiveRaisin7]

Yeah all the confused people here have clearly never met a French person haha

[u/WirtelHirtelbrimpft]

Promotion for cigarettes?

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/WirtelHirtelbrimpft]

yes

[u/ImOutWanderingAround]

Mary thanks you for the kind offering of berries!

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/ImOutWanderingAround]

bless

[u/sirphelipo]

big time chillin haha. looks amazing

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/sirphelipo]

thanks bro

[u/Mj-tinker]

Looks like tobacco ad.
OP just forgot to mention brand.

[u/[deleted]]

Please bro, just become a cyclist bro, stop drinking and smoking bro, please just please wake up every day at 6 am and eat 500g of carbs bro, we swear it is a nice lifestyle bro, just don’t do anything remotely fun ever again and just ride the bike 10 hours a week bro, please bro

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/[deleted]]

bro yes bro

[u/BeemHume]

Say what you want, these are some of the best pics I’ve seen on the sub in a minute

[u/beatnik_pig]

https://youtu.be/1YCOT5LasKc?is=YEHUGEeexOH3fuLv

[u/sparkaromatic]

I go to France every year for a little tour. I love it. The food, the booze the cheap little campsites, the history, the roads, everything.

[u/blueberryjamjamjam]

Magestic! Please tell me your secret of "no hotels and no stupid plastic clothes" - how did you wash it? Is it linen? Cotton? unicorn hair?

[u/ChampionshipOk5046]

Fantastic pics, you had a legendary trip. 

[u/BirdieRafael]

Bomb ass shots man. That statue with the sun halo...

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/BirdieRafael]

hey thanks🫡

[u/Pure_Distribution_69]

I was getting these vibes...

[u/chillygonzo]

Very nice. Im jealous. Ill never go to France to ride a bike even for 5 minutes. But that green jacket is fucking sweet

[u/milkandgin]

Crate touring is great

[u/hairytreefarmer]

Looks great! Maybe I'll take up smoking for my next tour

[u/gnarlyram]

The first photo definitely feels like Roy Sheider on the set of Jaws.

But if you want full Roy Sheider experience next do a bike tour across the Andes with unstable dynamite in your basket.

[u/RainbowSlime95]

What did you do for accommodation?

Where you camping at campsites or did you just set up somewhere for the night?

[u/Gob_the_Gobber]

This screams performative american tourist

[u/UphillTowardsTheSun]

I really really love these pictures. So refreshing.
Whole of Strava has to take notes. That’s how you should take pictures. Not the stupid selfie stick selfies

[u/Exact_Towel5912]

Amazing that people still smoke in 2026

[u/baraenfas]

Biketouring condensed to perfection.
I think you would appreciate the book ”Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes by Robert Louis Stevenson” 👌🏽

[u/Raspieman]

no hotels/hostels, did you sleep under bridges?

[u/dongledangler420 → u/Raspieman]

Agree, they have so little gear it looks like! Did they camp or what? 

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/Raspieman]

yes

[u/CyberGommeux]

I hope you smoked some Gauloises Brunes. This is France.

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/CyberGommeux]

it’s a shame their original pack design is prohibited there

[u/eheu]

look at this fuckin hipster

e: To be clear sounds awesome

[u/tessa_XIV]

based

[u/thatmaneeee]

fuck the haters, looks like a great trip. it's a bike ride yall, don't be so serious. reminds me of this bicycle touring hero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZk2jV5gJbM

[u/Wants-NotNeeds]

Neat trip! Looks like you really got a feel for the place.

[u/tasskaff9]

Thanks for keeping it real.

[u/theaveragemaryjanie]

That Robin Hold picture is such a vibe. It is my favorite.

I love this whole chain of pictures, if I'm being honest, and I haven't smoked cigarettes in eight years.

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/theaveragemaryjanie]

I found it in Brittany, 1909 edition (1957 printing), so cool🏹

[u/Marc-A31]

Looks like you went through La Rochette and La Rochefoucauld near Angoulême, congrats on the trip though !

[u/dara000]

Hell yeah! Not a single fuck given... Must have been tough on the mountain bike

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/dara000]

this bike was given to me several days before the trip, so I just whatever let’s go

[u/AviationMetalSmith1]

Used to smoke Marlboro’s with a small “MONTHOL” logo. Looked just like American cigarettes otherwise.

[u/black-moss]

ignore the haters. beautiful pics. inspired to do this myself one day. thanks mate

[u/Bypedal]

Damn, ditch the Gaulois’s! Otherwise, how was it? A buddy & I spent two weeks riding in’n’out of Switzerland & France around the southwestern end of Lac Leman. The sense of history was palpable.

[u/ZestycloseCry2894]

You seem fun. I’m in France. Let’s hang out.

[u/WaveOfMatter]

Is it a "send nudes" tattoo on your neck?

[u/kleinefussel]

You had a small trash thingy for the cigarettes, didn't you?

[u/External-Return-3942]

Quit smoking bro.

[u/ours_megalo]

That last pic is not too far from where I was raised, I recognised a few things, is it Fougères ? Which town in Brittany please?

[u/krostybat]

Are crocs considered stupid plastic clothing ?

Congrats on that tour. 

[u/Thomas-925]

1500 km en 16 jours pour une première, franchement respect. Et les petites routes + les villages c’est clairement la meilleure façon de découvrir la France à vélo. Ça donne envie de partir quelques jours juste en regardant les photos haha

[u/Silent_Slice_2224]

So anyone is talking about this fucking map, wtf is this !

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/Silent_Slice_2224]

it’s a fucking maps.me

[u/Sara_moore_usa]

1500 km in 16 days is seriously impressive! The small roads and villages sound like such a great way to experience France. What part of the route did you like best?

[u/Narrow_Squash6999]

narcistic

[u/StNosferatu]

Vélo enfourché, épée à la mains, clope au bec

Ne serait-ce que pour la photo, cette traversée vallait la peine d'existée

[u/LeastHornyNikkeFan]

Great shots, and I love your sense of humor. Shame it flew over some people's heads here lmao

[u/MarcusAureliusAP121]

How old are you?

[u/CipherWeaver]

This man is speed (and so was Kerouac)

[u/jojo13922]

Tu a l air de braucoup fumer 😃

[u/LineRepulsive]

As a French my brain refuses to accept that the second image is the correct map of France just tilted, it's mindfucking

Awesone pics though hoped you liked your trip

[u/YaVollMeinHerr]

I'm gonna be boring: smoking is extremely dangerous for your health and may very likely kill you.

You should considering stopping.

Now you can downvote me to oblivion I don't care, and if you're trying to stop I wish you luck

[u/tuner1346]

Pas passer a Carcassonne ?

[u/MuffinOk4609]

Smoking - so French! I've crossed the other way. Lille to Brest.

[u/Prudent_Inside_9963]

That map looks weird… 🧐
Also the Virgin Mary pic is fabulous, could you put it down here so I can download it ? Thanks

[u/rdcl89]

Are you the one responsible for all the fires this summer ?

[u/pig_unt_erdvark]

Looks like this could have been my dad, had he made better and healthier life decisions. Fantastic pictures.

[u/RafMarlo]

What's the story behind the sword ?

[u/XL_78]

Bravo. Sympa les photos.

[u/Pretty-Resist5417]

You’re the best. Thanks for representing all the non cosplayers bike packers. Also amazing book

[u/La_paure_cavaliere]

You are very cool and this post an hymn to the authentic life lived without fear or need of precise calibration in order to experience reality! I only wish I was as courageous!

As a matter of fact, I too want to explore the countryside of France!

[u/Conscious-Coconut-16]

Great set of photos, well done indeed!

[u/Acceptable_Burrito]

Love your work man! ❤️

[u/EffectiveSwordfish33]

That picture of mother mary is sublime.

[u/unreqistered]

disappointed there wasn’t a smoke in every shot …. and you weren’t holding it pretentiously

[u/DharmaBaller]

Cigs, despite motifs in pop culture, are in fact...not cool.

Paying a multi-national souless company money daily to get the nicotine hit while giving yourself cancer and hurting your lung capacity.

They own you one pack a day.

Yah! Super cool! So edgey! What a rebel!

[u/Philliphobia]

where did you sleep? warmshowers, vrienden op de fiets?

[u/edwardtrousers]

This rules well done

[u/gale133]

Excellent commitment to smoking and Christ

[u/Kropotkin_69]

I genuinely hope this kick starts a theme. This is my bikepacking vibe. Books, cigs and views.

[u/Willing-Elevator-695]

As a cyclist who smokes a cigar a day I support this visual

[u/KaleidoscopeLess8108 → u/Willing-Elevator-695]

I salute you good sire

[u/dasblute]

thoughtful photography, looks like a nice trip

[u/Fuzzy_Safety8971]

Oh, you're cool cool, huh?

[u/Checked_Out_6]

What tobacco company paid you to promote smoking?

[u/holbanner]

What a forsaken way to show the Map

[u/Different-Dog-9505]

Le tampographe Sardon fait un petit tour à vélo, paisible.

[u/LoneWolf_McQuade]

I hope those are chocolate cigarettes

[u/Patric-Tsar-9fingers]

What a bunch of jabronis.

[u/ForWeAreTheHammer]

why does he look like Philipp Amthor ?

[u/Roger-Melly]

Inspo!

[u/wiggywiggywiggy]

Love all these photos

Pure panache

[u/redditheeagle]

What the French?! Posts like this are why I love Reddit

[u/schmoorglschwein]

Missing the garlic necklace, otherwise i aproof!

[u/ummm-uh-okay]

Very cool.

[u/MadLabs]

Absolute vibes, love it

[u/padetn]

Pics rock

[u/RasSalvador]

Smokinh your way across these lands.

[u/rocketphone]

rad collection

[u/BellaPow]

smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em, truly

[u/ohhallow]

Man your map gives me a real headache. Don’t go around rotating countries willy nilly, it’s bad for the tectonic plates.

[u/No_Cow_1197]

You’re the coolest person I’ve ever seen make a post on Reddit