Coulée Verte in Ile de France - Rather Disappointing - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

05-19-2004, 02:39 AM

This route is famous. When the railway line became disaffected, a
community movement undertook to have it converted into a green pathway,
for pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers and kick scooterists, along its
whole distance from the 15th Arrondissment in Paris at Vanves-Malakofff
to Massy in Essonne. So, in theory, I can ride this pathway right into
the heart of Paree.

In yesterday's gorgeous weather I thought, as I left work a little
early, to check out the Essonnian end, up to the town of Antony.

What's up with the asphalt? Did they not calculate for the tree-roots?
At the very first segment I met these - bumps doesn't describe it. It's
like the pavement is being overturned by some sort of underground
veinous system, tree roots is the only explaination I can come up with.
There are sharp ridges up to ten inches high criss-crossing the path in
every direction. The asphalt at the top is cracking open.

I thought this was a momentary glitch but I kept encountering the same
phenomenon all the way to Antony - these bone-rattling, bicycle-killing
ridges. At one point there was even a ledge, about 20 inches high. And
then there are bubble-bumps that look like something was boiling
underneath the pavement.

In addition there are barriers everywhere. OK, so they don't want people
to got too fast (how could they anyway?). But every 200 meters you come
across a gated crossing which requires, for uncoordinated me, a dismount
and a careful twisting of Behemoth round the double barriers. This takes
enough time and attention that I cannot even check if there is traffic
coming as I find myself in the intersection.

I met groups of cyclists, joggers, trottineurs, promenaders but on
considerable stretches of path I was quite alone. Walls were graffitied
with evidence of local "fauna". Alone is fine, but I don't much like the
idea of some of the types who might get the idea to share my solitude.
Slow, vulnerable mover on a luxury bike with steering problems ... I
passed a few gangs of yoofs (thanks Helen, good term) who were harmless.
On this occasion. And all the joggers were fine and decent too, but I
suspect that when one of them gets the idea to expose himself there
won't be strolling crowds around. At one point, at a bendy section that
passed under a much graffitied, pissed-on railway arch, I met a young
woman cycling very slowly, all on her brakes, in the opposite direction.
I could see she was just as scared as I was, and for the same reasons.

In its favor, I will say that the weather was lovely and that there were
some pretty, green parkland sections. I only went a fraction of the
route. Perhaps if one is accustomed to the paths one learns how to steer
around the bumps, and how to plan getting on and off. Or perhaps MTBers
and BMXers actually like it that way. I saw several just whizzing along.
I guess I understand now why some bikes need full suspension.

But I was so much on my brakes and handlebars that I developed spasms in
my right arm. My fingers are still twitching this morning.

Cheers all,
EFR
Ile de France