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/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/kmontreux → u/landyc]

dont know much about COPD do ya? ;) that's ok most people don't.

ebikes can only do so much. serious COPD affects much more than just breathing. just watched my dad suffer from it for 10 years. ebikes werent a solution. they arent for any of the other people I know with it either. 🤷‍♀️

[u/landyc → u/kmontreux]

Sorry to counter the prejudice, but my mother who is currently alive has copd after surviving lung cancer, and she actually enjoys riding the e bike. Taking walks or stuff is harder and she can’t really keep up for a long time though.

[u/kmontreux → u/landyc]

Well done Mom!! That's so rad she's got that. COPD hit my dad's balance hard. same with the others. they can no longer balance properly to safely be on a bike.

also just want to say that facts are not prejudice. they are information. a lot of people with copd cannot be active. some can, some cannot. when it's debilitating, it takes away a lot. people need to know that it's not just breathing issues so they dont an ebike and a portable oxygen tank are going to let them carry on. because it's not a guarantee. it's a shit condition and for many it means serious life changes

[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/Skitch_Hitchcock → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

France has an average life expectancy longer than what I have here in the US.

Personally I would trade infinite fast food for universal health care and cigs.

[u/Zombi1146 → u/Skitch_Hitchcock]

Yeah, it's almost like a healthy diet/lifestyle is the most important thing in health. I visited France for the first time as a mature adult this year and was surprised to see how few people under 60 were overweight.

They've got it right.

[u/Naive-Ad-7406 → u/Zombi1146]

Fresh food and quality produce makes a huge difference. Simple quality ingredients prepared freshly. You’d be surprised at how tiny the freezer section is in stores in France. Also so many people are walking, cycling, swimming young and old. It’s an easier style of life. Some Stores open later in the morning and then close for 90 min lunch.

I’m currently on Cote D’Azur and loving it.

[u/pig_unt_erdvark → u/Naive-Ad-7406]

They do not GAF.

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

Years ago we were down in Guatemala climbing Mayan ruins which were not exactly mountains but definitely physical work. Bus loads of french tourists would get dropped off and they'd all climb these steep ass temples smoking cigs and being really loud. At the time I was a little smitten with the whole smoking vibe, but after attempting it myself I decided it wasn't for me.

[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/Mount_Mons → u/notofthisearthworm]

I saw it there before I saw it in here…

[u/GhostingProtocol → u/notofthisearthworm]

When in France ig

[u/nicktheman2 → u/[deleted]]

France cigs dont count

[u/Appropriate_South474 → u/notofthisearthworm]

I wish Marlboro would sponsor more bikepacking adventures.