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Our Guided Electric Bike Tour of Paris

June 13, 2017 by Average Joe Cyclist Leave a Comment

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Maggie and I recently did an electric bike tour of the extraordinary and unique city of Paris. It was called the Paris Charms and Secrets Electric Bike Tour, and it turned out to be the highlight of our entire Paris trip. Best of all, this tour is possible for most people, thanks to the smoothly running ebikes that make it easy for 50-year-olds to cycle with 20-year-olds! The ebike is a great equalizer, but you still get exercise while being educated and entertained. This video presents a taste of the tour.

Our guide was Fabien, an energetic man with impeccable English, and acting skills reminiscent of the French mime Marcel Marceau. Except of course he was not a mime – he told us fascinating stories all afternoon. He was unfailingly enthusiastic and cheerful as he showed us less traveled places, and unveiled some of the secrets of Parisian history to us.

Our guide Fabien was unfailingly enthusiastic and cheerful as he showed us less traveled places and unveiled secrets of Parisian history to us. Guided Electric Bike Tour of Paris
Our guide Fabien was unfailingly enthusiastic and cheerful as he showed us less traveled places, and unveiled some of the secrets of Parisian history to us

Although it was a hot day, I never broke a sweat, and Maggie and I were easily able to keep up with a group of people who were much younger than us. In fact, to be honest, we were at the front of the pack most of the day. After all, we know bikes! Plus, we cannot resist showing that we can still hold our own with people young enough to be our kids.

Here we are outside the Louvre museum. We were by far the oldest tour participants, but it made no difference at all, thanks to ebikes. Guided electric bike tour of Paris
Here we are outside the Louvre museum. We were by far the oldest tour participants, but it made no difference at all, thanks to ebikes

Of course we went by the Louvre, and I have to say it felt quite surreal to be cycling past the most iconic museum in the world.

Our electric bike tour group cycling past the iconic pyramid of the Louvre in Paris
Our electric bike tour group cycling past the iconic pyramid of the Louvre in Paris

A highlight was visiting Le Procope, the oldest café in Paris. We stopped for a truly great beer, but that was not the highlight. Fabien took us upstairs to show us something few people even know exists: a tiny collection of mind boggling history, including the final letter that Marie Antoinette wrote to her children on the day she was beheaded. Experts have confirmed it was her letter, based on the DNA of the tears she shed as she was writing. Then there were the solid metal desks of Voltaire and Descartes. Yes, their actual desks, just standing in a room on the way to the washrooms.

In the entrance to Le Procope there is an interesting hat behind glass. Turns out it belonged to General Napoleon Bonaparte. He dined at this restaurant a long time ago, and happened to have no money on him. So he offered his hat as surety that he would return to pay … and the restaurant is still waiting. No doubt burned by this experience, they no longer accept hats as surety! On the plus side, if they really wanted to, they could sell the hat. One of Napoleon’s hats was sold recently, and fetched a price of $2.4 million. At that rate, I suspect Le Procope is not shedding any tears over the fact that Napoleon never did return to pay for his dinner. From our point of view, it was like looking into the well of history to see a hat that was actually worn by Napoleon. Judging by the hat, it seems that he had quite a small head.

A highlight of our Guided Electric Bike Tour of Paris was visiting Le Procope, the oldest café in Paris. In the entrance to Le Procope there is an interesting hat behind glass. Turns out it belonged to General Napoleon Bonaparte
A highlight of our Guided Electric Bike Tour of Paris was visiting Le Procope, the oldest café in Paris. In the entrance to Le Procope there is an interesting hat behind glass. Fabien explained that it belonged to General Napoleon Bonaparte

After a delicious draft beer at Le Procope, we cycled on to enjoy another highlight:  visiting an ancient Roman amphitheater, the oldest arena still existing in Paris. The Arènes de Lutèce was constructed in the 1st century AD. It could once seat 15,000 people at gladiatorial combats. We stood besides the gates that once were used to let lions into the arena. That was eerie. In those ancient times, this arena was also used to simulate sea battles, by flooding the arena using water from an artesian well below the ground. Now, the arena is used by local kids to play soccer!

We stood besides the gates that once were used to let lions into the arena. Guided electric bike tour of Paris
We stood besides the gates that once were used to let lions into the arena

The bikes were basic, solid electric bikes in a semi-cruiser style – relaxed and easy to ride. They had a basic boost and an enhanced boost mode, and we used the latter to climb the hills in the Latin Quarter. It was also handy that each bike has a basic lock, so we could lock them up while we went for a walk-about with Fabien.

The bikes were basic, solid electric bikes in a semi-cruiser style, relaxed and easy to ride. It was also handy that each electric bike has a basic lock, so we could lock them up while we went for a walk-about with Fabien. Guided electric bike tour of Paris
The bikes were basic, solid electric bikes in a semi-cruiser style, relaxed and easy to ride. It was also handy that each electric bike has a basic lock, so we could lock them up while we went for a walk-about with Fabien

Yes, they were electric bikes, but ebikes require riding skills, especially in the sometimes quite intimidating traffic of Paris. The closest we came to a problem was when a young man in our group almost fell over on a pull-off, bumping into Maggie. Luckily she is a skilled and experienced cyclist, and she managed to stay upright.

Fabien gave us a good introduction to the electric bikes, which were simple to operate and fun to ride
Fabien gave us a good introduction to the electric bikes, which were simple to operate and fun to ride

I highly recommend this electric bike tour if you are fortunate enough to be in the ancient, splendid city of Paris. It is called Paris Charms & Secrets. It’s not just a a bike ride, it’s an experience. They are not paying me for this recommendation – I just want you to enjoy it! Just one caveat – we sometimes cycled through quite a lot of traffic, so if you are not comfortable with that, this tour would not work for you. On the other hand, we learned from Fabien that in Paris, cyclists are treated with the same respect as pedestrians, and have the right to go wherever they like. We certainly felt very safe, and were never intimidated by angry motorists – not during this tour, and not during the extensive cycling we did on our own while we were in Paris. Even in the most hectic traffic, motorists were extremely careful not to hurt us, intimidate us, or insult us. Viva la difference!

My new electric bike book is packed with reviews of some of the newest, best quality electric bikes, thanks to my collaboration with two of the greatest ebike reviewers in the world
My new electric bike book is packed with reviews of some of the newest, best quality electric bikes, thanks to my collaboration with two of the greatest ebike reviewers in the world

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Welcome to our Electric Bikes Blog!

Average Joe CyclistWelcome to our blog! I’m Joe Goodwill, and I love electric bikes! I have written a book about how to choose the best electric bike. This blog features product reviews, news, and advice. I also have a blog about all aspects of cycling - my Average Joe Cyclist Blog - and my Average Joe's RV Living Blog.

Mrs Average Joe Cyclist - MaggieHi! I'm Maggie Neilson (aka Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist). Together Joe and I have done a lot of cycling, and Joe has passed on his love of electric bikes to me. I love my electric bike, and  I share my passion for electric bikes on this blog.

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