Happy New Year, y'all

[Andrew Scheyer]

A small story to bring some cheer to your new year - 

Monday, having just arrived back in France the previous evening, I set out on my first ride of the year. Rolling out through the center of Marseille, dead at the early hour, I've gone no more than 5km from my front door when I roll through an empty intersection. No more than a moment later I hear a police car signal at me to pull over. 

Cycling here is largely a free-for-all, and I've done everything from run red lights to ride the wrong way in traffic directly in front of police with no more than a glance, so I'm surprised to say the least. Thinking that 2017 will be commencing with my first every citation in France, I pull over and start to apologize for blowing the intersection. Before I can get two words out, the passenger-side officer rolls down his window and says, "Fignon ou Hinault?" "Pardon?" I reply, thinking I've surely misheard. He repeats himself, "Laurent Fignon ou Bernand Hinault?" I laugh, and after briefly pondering the risk of a wrong answer, I reply, "À mon avis, toujours Merckx. (in my opinion, always Merckx)" The two officers burst into laughter, before the one who delivered the question responds. "Tu as de la chance que je suis Belge. (you're lucky I'm Belgian)"

I hope all of your 2017s have begun with such luck and kindness, and wish you all a most wonderful year ahead. I hope some of us can connect in the 3D world this year, for a ride, a beer, a coffee or all three. Come visit - you've got a bed and a bike when you want.

Much love to all,

Drew

--

Andrew F. Scheyer, PhD

perpetual student

Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée

Parc scientifique de Luminy

163 avenue de Luminy

BP13 - 13273 Marseille cedex 09 - France

[Ed Weigel]

Amazing. It would be rad if officers in the states knew half as much about cycling. 

Cheers and happy New Years!

Sent from my iPad

[Paul Halupka]

I chuckled out loud when I read this... what an awesome story. Much love to the Jus diaspora. 

--

paul halupka

ha-lup-ka.com

[Nathan Pfeifer]

That is rad, and hilarious.  Perhaps some or all of you already know about another uplifting tidbit of cycling news from France - an hour record set by this 105 yr old dude:  http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/04/508213332/105-year-old-cyclist-rides-14-miles-in-an-hour-en-route-to-a-world-record

I'm happy to say in recent days that I have been fortunate enough to see some of the Jus diaspora, as Emily and I stayed with Lucas and Sophia in Salt Lake on our drive across (though Uly and Hazel did not enjoy the time spent in close quarters), and now Ed is in town for the weekend working the Hot Chocolate Run!  It's supposed to rain like a motherfucker here this weekend, but Drew and I had a fortunate reprieve from ominous forecasts here a few weeks back that allowed us to ride, and I'm hoping for the same gift this weekend!

Love and miss you all.

NP

[Lucas Seibel]

I love it Drew! Looks like 2017 is starting off alright. 

I enjoyed my first ride of year last night, taking the fat bike out in 6˚. Today's 13˚ and sun is going to feel like one of those summer afternoons where you skip work and ride. 

Happy New Year!